Seat assembly having a seat repositioning device and an associated method

• US 20030052519A1
• Filed: 09/14/2001
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Coughren, Brian D., Reynolds, Thomas Leroy
• Granted Patent: US 6,682,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/216.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42763 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0053 Legs
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0093 Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1951 characterised by arrangements in vehicle or relative to seat belt
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1952 Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/062 Belts or other passenger restraint means for passenger seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06205 Arrangements of airbags
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0621 Airbag initiation or activation means

Abstract

The present invention provides a seat assembly supported by a seat frame that includes a seat cushion, an upwardly extending back cushion, a seat repositioning device, and an actuation mechanism that repositions the seat cushion. In one embodiment, an airbag is disposed beneath a seatpan such that inflation raises a forward portion of both the seatpan and seat cushion. Inflation of the airbag is in response to a sensor detecting the rapid deceleration of the vehicle. The seatpan is attached to each respective armrest of the seat frame at a hinge point that permits the seatpan to rotate upwardly. A seatbelt cinching mechanism is attached to the seatpan such that upward rotation of the seatpan pulls the cinching mechanism around an idler pulley, and thereby increases seatbelt tension. In a second embodiment, an airbag inflates through an opening in the seat cushion and above a forward portion of the seat cushion. In a third embodiment, the airbag is substituted with a gas activated cylinder. As in the first embodiment, rapid deceleration initiates the gas activated cylinder to lift the seatpan upwardly.

Claims

1. A seat assembly comprising:

a seat comprising a seat cushion and an upwardly extending seatback for supporting an occupant;

an airbag capable of being inflated from a compacted state to an expanded state; and

an actuation mechanism for initiating inflation of said airbag in response to a predetermined event such that the occupant'"'"'s legs are raised upwardly at the knee.

2. A seat assembly according to claim 1 wherein said airbag is disposed beneath said seat cushion such that inflation of said airbag raises at least a portion of said seat cushion upwardly.

3. A seat assembly according to claim 2 wherein said airbag is disposed beneath said seat cushion and proximate a forward portion of said seat cushion.

4. A seat assembly according to claim 2 further comprising a seatpan, wherein said airbag is disposed beneath said seatpan, and said seat cushion is disposed above said seatpan such that inflation of said airbag raises at least a portion of said seatpan and seat cushion upwardly.

5. A seat assembly according to claim 4 further comprising a seat frame for support of the seat assembly.

6. A seat assembly according to claim 5 wherein said actuation mechanism is a solid chemical gas generator disposed within said seat frame.

7. A seat assembly according to claim 5 wherein said seatpan is attached to said seat frame at a hinge point such that said seatpan rotates upwardly about a hinge point as a result of inflation of said airbag.

8. A seat assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a seat belt cinching mechanism for securing the occupant within the seat following the predetermined event.

9. A seat assembly according to claim 1 wherein said airbag is disposed such that inflation of said airbag expands said airbag above said seat cushion and beneath the occupant'"'"'s legs.

10. A seat assembly according claim 1 wherein said airbag is disposed below said seat cushion and is inflated upwardly through an opening in said seat cushion.

11. A seat assembly comprising:

a seat comprising a seat cushion and an upwardly extending seatback for supporting an occupant;

a seatpan disposed beneath said seat cushion;

a gas activated cylinder disposed below said seatpan capable of moving from an unextended state to an extended state such that extension of said gas activated cylinder raises at least a portion of said seat cushion and said seatpan upwardly; and

an actuation mechanism for initiating extension of said gas activated cylinder in response to a predetermined event such that the occupant'"'"'s legs are raised upwardly at the knee.

12. A seat assembly according to claim 11 further comprising a seat frame for support of said seat assembly.

13. A seat assembly according to claim 12 wherein said actuation mechanism is a solid chemical gas generator disposed within said gas activated cylinder.

14. A seat assembly according to claim 11 further comprising a seatbelt cinching mechanism for securing the occupant within the seat following the predetermined event.

15. A seat assembly according to claim 11 wherein said seatpan is attached to said seat frame at a hinge point such that said seatpan rotates upwardly around said hinge point as a result of inflation of said airbag.

16. A method for protecting a seated occupant comprising:

detecting a predetermined event;

inflating an airbag in response to the detection of the predetermined event; and

raising the occupant'"'"'s legs at the knee in response to the predetermined event thereby limit forward movement of the occupant'"'"'s upper torso in response to the predetermined event.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein raising the occupant'"'"'s legs comprises raising at least a forward portion of the front part of the seat cushion upwardly.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein detecting the predetermined event comprises detecting rapid deceleration.

19. A method according to claim 16 wherein raising the occupant'"'"'s legs comprises inflating the airbag above the seat and beneath the occupant'"'"'s legs.

20. A method according to claim 17 further comprising increasing tension on an occupant'"'"'s seat belt concurrently with raising at least the forward portion of the seat cushion upwardly.