Chairs and seats – Crash seat – Force-absorbing means incorporated into back
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-17
2001-04-10
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Crash seat
Force-absorbing means incorporated into back
C297S216120, C297S354110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213549
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a seat and headrest arrangement for a vehicle comprising a backrest frame having an upper and a lower part which are connected to one another via a joint, with a headrest being mounted at the upper part and with a spring means biasing the upper part and the headrest into a rest position (cf. DE 197 43 339).
Conventional vehicle seats usually consist of a seat frame and a backrest frame which is pivotally connected thereto and which can be adjusted in its inclination with respect to the seat frame in order to enable an adaptation to the anatomy and to the individual requirements of the vehicle passengers. In these conventional arrangements there exists the basic problem that the distance between the head of the vehicle passenger and the headrest which is mounted on the backrest frame varies in dependence on the inclination of the backrest frame. Therefore the distance between the back of the head of the vehicle passenger and the headrest can be determined in conventional vehicle seats for one theoretical seat position only. This however represents a compromise between safety and comfort since the theoretically safest position with a completely upright backrest is uncomfortable and the most comfortable seat position with a completely inclined backrest offers the least protection, since the distance between the headrest and the back of the head of the vehicle passenger is a maximum in this case.
Moreover, a vehicle passenger often assumes different sitting positions during travel even with a constant backrest inclination, so that here as well a constant distance between the head of the passenger and the headrest is not always ensured. In particular passengers who incline their upper torso relatively far forwards during travel are subject to an increased risk of injury to the neck in the event of an impact, in particular a rear impact.
The object of the present invention is to provide a seat and headrest arrangement of the initially named kind in which a risk of injury to the neck and cervix region of a vehicle passenger is minimised.
This object is satisfied by the features of claim
1
and in particular in that the upper part can be pivoted backwardly from a rest position.
In accordance with the invention the upper part is biased by the spring means into a forward rest position or forward final position, so that the upper part can be pivoted backwardly against the force of the spring. Through this the upper part can, on the one hand, be pushed backwards by the shoulder region of the vehicle passenger; on the other hand, the upper part always moves automatically in the direction of the rest position which is furthest forward so that a constant distance between the headrest and the head of the vehicle passenger is always present. Thus a constant distance is always present between the backrest and the head of the vehicle passenger during travel and independently of the position of the backrest so that the construction can be optimised as a whole. As soon as the vehicle passenger moves forwards or backwards with his upper torso, the upper part follows this movement so that the critical distance between the head and the headrest does not change.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the description, in the drawings and in the subordinate claims.
In accordance with a first advantageous embodiment the upper and the lower part can each have an abutment surface, with the abutment surfaces being in engagement with one another when the upper part is in its rearmost position. In this it is also advantageous if the abutment surfaces are located in the region of the joints.
In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment a shock absorber is provided which is mounted between the upper and the lower part. Through this a rapid, backwardly directed pivotal movement is damped, i.e. a resistance is offered to the head and shoulder region of the passenger so that an excessive acceleration of the head is avoided. In this it can be particularly advantageous if the resistance of the shock absorber increases proportionally to the impact speed. Through this the upper part can be pivoted slightly by the head or the shoulder of the vehicle passenger respectively at a slow speed of movement. In the event of an accident however the shock absorber is pressed together at a high speed by the impact of the shoulder or of the head respectively onto the upper part, through which its resistance increases so that energy is dissipated in the shock absorber.
In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment the spring means can be mounted between the upper part and the lower part and preferably push the upper part forwards, i.e. in the direction of the back of the vehicle passenger, in the rest position.
In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment the upper part has a support surface for the back or the shoulder region of the vehicle passenger respectively above the joint so that the upper part can be pivoted by the pressure exerted by the vehicle passenger.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2973029 (1961-02-01), Schollstein
patent: 3215468 (1965-11-01), Swenson et al.
patent: 3838870 (1974-10-01), Hug
patent: 4784352 (1988-11-01), Smith et al.
patent: 4834453 (1989-05-01), Makiol
patent: 5520440 (1996-05-01), Lee
patent: 5884968 (1999-03-01), Massara
patent: 2232726 (1974-01-01), None
patent: 2152202 (1980-11-01), None
Brooks & Kushman PC
Cuomo Peter M.
Lear Corporation
White Rodney B.
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