Vehicle seat

• US 20030001415A1
• Filed: 06/04/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ola Bostrom, Yngve Haland
• Original Assignee: Ola Bostrom, Yngve Haland
• Inventors: Bostrom, Ola, Haland, Yngve
• Granted Patent: US 6,767,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/216.14
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4214 longitudinal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4228 due to impact coming from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42745 of the back-rest B60N2/433 takes precedence; higher part of the back-rest moving together with the headrest B60N2/888

Abstract

A vehicle seat includes a squab and a back mounted for pivotal movement relative to the squab. A support plate is mounted to the squab, and the back of the seat is pivotally mounted to the support plate. A mechanism for providing a resistive force resists a first pivotal movement. The providing mechanism provides a first resistive force during a first energy impact and a second resistive force during a second energy impact. The first energy impact is a higher energy impact than the second energy impact.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat, the seat comprising a squab and a back the back being mounted for pivotal movement relative to the squab of the seat incorporating energy absorbing force limiting means adapted to absorb energy as the back of the seat moves rearwardly when subjected to a force from the torso of an occupant of the seat, if a vehicle in which the seat is mounted is involved in a rear impact the energy absorbing force limiting means providing a first resistive force resisting the pivotal movement during a first determined pivotal movement, and second resistive force during a second subsequent pivotal movement, the resistive force provided during the first pivotal movement being dependent upon the energy of the rear impact.

2. A vehicle seat according to Claim 1 wherein the energy absorbing force limiting mean comprise elements to provide the first resistive force comprising an energy absorbing force limiting device and a damped spring.

3. A vehicle seat according to claim 2 wherein the energy absorbing force limiting device and the damped spring are connected in series between the back of the seat and an element mounted on the squab of the seat.

4. A vehicle seat according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the damped spring comprises a spring connected in parallel with a fluid-filled cylinder containing a double acting piston, the opposed ends of the cylinder being inter-connected by a parallel connection of a non-return valve and a constriction.

5. A seat according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the energy absorbing force limiting means comprise a framework present within the back of the seat adapted to deform when subjected to a predetermined force.

6. A vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the energy absorbing force limiting means comprise an energy absorbing force limiting device adapted to provide said second resistive force during the second subsequent pivotal movement

7. A vehicle seat according to claim 6 wherein the back of the seat is mounted for pivotal movement between predetermined limits relative to a support the support being pivotally mounted to the squab of the seat, the said energy absorbing force limiting device providing the second resistive force during the second subsequent pivotal movement being adapted to provide the resistive support on pivotal movement of said support