Seat assembly

• US 10,232,815 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2017
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dry, Alan George, Line, Johnathan Andrew, Spahn, Brian Robert, Yilma, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): White, Rodney B
• Application Number:
  US15/786,836
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 297145, 297162, 297392, 297393, 2972161
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/001 of tables or trays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/022 mounted on seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0407 using gas or liquid as energy absorbing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/02 Occupant safety arrangements or fittings , e.g. crash pads seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/04 Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence

Abstract

A seat assembly includes a first bolster and a second bolster spaced from each other. The seat assembly includes a seat bottom between the first and second bolster. The seat assembly includes a bridge deployable to a deployed position. The bridge in the deployed position is spaced from the seat bottom. The bridge in the deployed position is supported on the first and second bolsters and extends from the first bolster to the second bolster. The seat assembly includes an inflatable device supported by the bridge.

Claims

1. A seat assembly comprising:

a first bolster and a second bolster spaced from each other;

a seat bottom between the first and second bolster;

a bridge deployable to a deployed position, the bridge in the deployed position being spaced from the seat bottom, the bridge in the deployed position being supported on the first and second bolsters and extending from the first bolster to the second bolster;

an inflatable device supported by the bridge; and

wherein the bridge has a first end and a second end spaced from the first end, the first end including a locking mechanism and the second end including a rotating mechanism.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the bridge is rotatable relative to the first bolster between an undeployed position and the deployed position and, in the deployed position, the bridge is releasably locked to the second bolster.

3. The seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the first bolster includes a slot, and the bridge in the undeployed position is stowed in the slot.

4. The seat assembly of claim 3, wherein during a deployment of the bridge to the deployed position, the bridge is designed to be extracted from the slot and moved toward the second bolster.

5. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the inflatable device is inflatable from the bridge in a direction away from the seat bottom.

6. The seat assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second inflatable device supported by the bridge, the second inflatable device being inflatable toward the seat bottom.

7. The seat assembly of claim 1, further comprising a knee restraint supported by the bridge, the knee restraint being deployable to a deployed position, the knee restraint in the deployed position being in front of the seat bottom.

8. The seat assembly of claim 7, wherein the knee restraint is rolled into the bridge, and during a deployment of the knee restraint, the knee restraint is designed to unroll to the deployed position.

9. The seat assembly of claim 7, wherein during a deployment of the knee restraint, the knee restraint is designed to inflate to an inflated position.

10. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the first bolster includes a first track and the second bolster includes a second track, the first track and the second track facing each other.

11. The seat assembly of claim 10, wherein the bridge is engageable with the first and second tracks and lockable with the second track.

12. The seat assembly of claim 10, further comprising a knee restraint supported by the bridge, the knee restraint being engageable with the first and second tracks and deployable along the first and second tracks.

13. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the bridge includes a cavity, and the inflatable device in an uninflated position is housed in the cavity.

14. The seat assembly of claim 13, further comprising a second inflatable device and a knee restraint, the second inflatable device and the knee restraint being housed in the cavity.

15. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the seat bottom extends from the first bolster to the second bolster.

16. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the bridge includes a base and a lid having a first end rotatably attached to the base and a second end removably attached to the base.

17. The seat assembly of claim 16, wherein during an inflation of the inflatable device, the lid is designed to rotate and stop at a predetermined location and the inflatable device in an inflated position abuts the lid at the predetermined location.

18. The seat assembly of claim 1, further comprising a seat back supported by the seat bottom, wherein the bridge in the deployed position is spaced from the seat back.

19. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the bridge is rigid relative to the inflatable device.

20. A seat assembly comprising:

a first bolster and a second bolster spaced from each other;

a seat bottom between the first and second bolster;

a bridge deployable to a deployed position, the bridge in the deployed position being spaced from the seat bottom, the bridge in the deployed position being supported on the first and second bolsters and extending from the first bolster to the second bolster;

an inflatable device supported by the bridge; and

a second inflatable device supported by the bridge, the second inflatable device being inflatable toward the seat bottom.

21. A seat assembly comprising:

a first bolster and a second bolster spaced from each other;

a seat bottom between the first and second bolster;

a bridge deployable to a deployed position, the bridge in the deployed position being spaced from the seat bottom, the bridge in the deployed position being supported on the first and second bolsters and extending from the first bolster to the second bolster;

an inflatable device supported by the bridge; and

a knee restraint supported by the bridge, the knee restraint being deployable to a deployed position, the knee restraint in the deployed position being in front of the seat bottom.