Vehicle seat

Details Vehicle seat Vehicle seat

1999-02-03

2000-08-29

Barfield, Anthony D.

Chairs and seats

Crash seat

Bottom and back movable as unit in response to force

29721613, 29721619, 29721614, B60N 242, B60R 2100

Patent

active

06109692&

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat and more particularly, relates to a vehicle seat intended for use in a motor vehicle such as a motor car.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has been appreciated that if a motor vehicle, such as a motor car, is involved in a rear-end collision--that is to say if a following vehicle runs into the back of the car--the occupants of the struck car often suffer from neck injuries.
It is to be understood that during a rear-end collision of this type, the vehicle that is struck is subjected to a forward acceleration. This imparts a forward acceleration to the seats of the vehicle. The squab and the back of each occupied seat engage the posterior and torso of the occupant of the seat and impart a substantial acceleration to the posterior and torso of the occupant. However, no corresponding acceleration is immediately imparted to the head of the occupant. The head is a part of the body that has substantial mass, and consequently the head has substantial inertia.
Thus, whilst the posterior and torso of the occupant of the vehicle are accelerated forwardly as a result of the rear-end collision, the head of the occupant of the vehicle initially remains stationary. This causes the neck initially to adopt a "S"-shaped configuration as the lower part of the neck moves forwardly, whilst remaining vertical, and the upper part of the neck remains in its initial position. Subsequently, the head begins to rotate, and the neck then occupies a curved configuration. The head subsequently moves forwardly. Research has shown that "whiplash" injuries may occur when the neck adopts the "S"-shaped configuration, if the head is moving, relative to the torso, at a substantial speed.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an improved vehicle seat in which the risk of "whiplash" injuries occurring to the occupant of the seat during a rear-end collision are reduced.
According to this invention there is provided a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat comprising a squab and a back, at least a substantial part of the back of the seat being adapted to move rearwardly, relative to the initial position of the squab of the seat, force limiter means being provided to provide a resisting force which resists said movement, the force limiter means being adapted to provide a resisting force to the said movement at a first relatively low level for a first predetermined amount of movement, and at a second, relatively high level, for a second predetermined amount of movement.
Preferably stop means are provided to terminate said movement after a specified extent of movement has been effected.
Preferably a catch is provided adapted to prevent the said part of the back of the seat from moving rearwardly, the catch being adapted to be released in response to a sensed rear impact.
In one embodiment the said part of the back of the seat is adapted to effect said rearward movement with a pivoting action relative to the squab of the seat.
Alternatively the said part of the back of the seat is adapted to effect said rearward movement with a sliding action relative to the squab of the seat.
In one embodiment said part of the back of the seat is adapted to effect said rearward movement with a pivoting action and a sliding action relative to said squab.
In certain embodiments the entire back of the seat is adapted to more relative to the squab of the seat.
In an alternative embodiment only part of the back of the seat executes said rearward movement against said relatively low resisting force, while another part of the back of the seat which incorporates a head-rest remains substantially still, and both of said parts of the back of the seat execute said rearward movement against said relatively high resisting force.
Conveniently the first predetermined amount of movement causes a movement, measured at the top of the back of the seat, through a distance in the range of 150-250 mm.
Advantageously the second predetermined amount of movement causes a movement, measured at the t

REFERENCES:
patent: 3357736 (1967-12-01), McCarthy
patent: 3802737 (1974-04-01), Mertens
patent: 5366268 (1994-11-01), Miller et al.

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