Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Seats with body modifications
Patent
1993-03-01
1994-08-23
Mitchell, David M.
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Seats with body modifications
29721618, 29728411, B60N 242
Patent
active
053401859
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD
The invention relates generally to passive safety systems installed in a motor vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for upwardly lifting the front edge section or knee bolster of a vehicle seat thereby improving the supportive action of the seat and preventing the forward motion of an occupant sitting thereon during a significant frontal impact to the motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND
During a significant frontal impact to a motor vehicle, the passenger(s) is accelerated forwards in response to the impact force. The risk of injury may be greatly reduced by a highly placed level of support (e.g., such as an upraised knee bolster) at the front edge of the seat cushion. In particular, this upraised portion also significantly improves the restraining action of the seat belt (when properly adjusted) and prevents the passenger from slipping through or "submarining" beneath the seat belt. In normal driving conditions, however, the knee bolster should remain in a lowered position for reasons of seating comfort.
From French patent document FR-PS 1 012 718, it is known how to tip a vehicle seat backwards, about a transverse axis of the motor vehicle in the event of a frontal impact. This backwards tipping movement of the seat is executed by a connecting rod having a first forward end attached to the front fender and a second rearward end extending into the passenger compartment and connected to the seat. In the event of a frontal impact, the connecting rod is moved into the passenger compartment and detaches the seat from its front support, thus tipping the seat such that it rotates generally backwards about a transverse axis passing through the rear seat support. However, for other safety considerations, a connecting rod which penetrates into the passenger compartment during the frontal collision is unfavorable as it presents a safety hazard to the occupant. Further, the actuation is unreliable because the connecting rod is prone to bending and jamming during its rearward movement. A further disadvantage is that the seat back also tilts backward, thus leaving the passenger's back unsupported during impact.
In German patent document DE-PS 36 31 881, there is disclosed a front edge section of a vehicle seat which is stiffened during a significant frontal impact to a motor vehicle such that the weight of an occupant cannot push the front edge section down. The stiffening action is achieved by a stretching gear, which is activated by either a pyrotechnical linear drive or a pyrotechnical rotational drive. An acceleration sensor, located at the front of the vehicle, senses the frontal impact and actuates the selected drive device. In view of all the specified components including the acceleration sensor, the pyrotechnical drive, the necessary actuating cables, and perhaps other redundant elements, such a design is overly elaborate, complex, and costly.
German patent document DE-OS 33 37 232 discloses another arrangement wherein the front edge section of a vehicle seat is raised by a lifting mechanism upon a frontal impact to a vehicle. The lifting mechanism is activated through utilization of the impact energy of the vehicle and by the relative movement of parts of the body across motion transmitting elements. This lifting apparatus utilizes the relative movement between an assembly arranged in the front of the vehicle which is caused to move rearward towards the passenger compartment by the impact deformation experienced in a frontal collision. The assembly is connected to the lifting mechanism via a cable and pulley system, so that as the assembly is moved rearward, the front edge section of the seat is raised.
There are several shortcomings with this device. For example, it is difficult to connect the lifting mechanism to the assembly, which is initially located in the front of the vehicle, because of the relatively long distances involved. Further, it is costly to build a device that is active during the frontal impact yet inactive when the seat is merely adjusted to accommodate the pa
REFERENCES:
patent: 2970862 (1961-02-01), Racine
patent: 3556584 (1971-01-01), Simon
patent: 3578376 (1971-05-01), Hasegawa et al.
patent: 3858930 (1975-01-01), Calandra et al.
patent: 3998291 (1976-12-01), Davis
patent: 4154472 (1979-05-01), Bryll
patent: 4623192 (1986-11-01), Koide et al.
Audi AG
Dulin Jacques M.
Hoge Gary C.
Mitchell David M.
LandOfFree
Vehicle safety seat having a raisable front edge does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vehicle safety seat having a raisable front edge, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicle safety seat having a raisable front edge will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-498477