Seat mounting structure for mitigating injury in side impacts
First Claim
1. A seat mounting structure for use in a vehicle, that lessens the risk of injury to an occupant in side-impact collisions, the seat mounting structure comprising:
- a sensor system;
a linkage system that guides a seat vertically up and laterally toward a centerline of the vehicle; and
an inflation module comprising an inflator and an inflatable structure, wherein the inflatable structure inflates in response to the sensor system, wherein the inflation of the inflatable structure displaces the seat in accordance with the linkage system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A seat mounting structure is disclosed for reducing injury to vehicle occupants in side impact collisions. The seat mounting structure may include an inflation module, a linkage system, a sensor system, and a side airbag. The inflation module may include an inflatable structure and inflator or a piston device. The linkage system attaches the seat mounting structure to a seat and may help guide the movement of the seat. The sensor system may include a radar sensor and an optical sensor to help the sensor system anticipate an impending side impact. The seat mounting structure mitigates injury to the occupant by moving the occupant vertically up and laterally toward a centerline of the vehicle, thus increasing the space between the sidewall of the vehicle and the occupant. Additionally, the inflation module may comprise an inflatable structure that stiffens a floor structure of the vehicle upon inflation.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A seat mounting structure for use in a vehicle, that lessens the risk of injury to an occupant in side-impact collisions, the seat mounting structure comprising:
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a sensor system;
a linkage system that guides a seat vertically up and laterally toward a centerline of the vehicle; and
an inflation module comprising an inflator and an inflatable structure, wherein the inflatable structure inflates in response to the sensor system, wherein the inflation of the inflatable structure displaces the seat in accordance with the linkage system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A seat mounting structure for use in a vehicle, that lessens the risk of injury to an occupant in side impact collisions, the seat mounting structure comprising:
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a sensor system;
a linkage system comprising a seat mount; and
an inflation module comprising a piston device, wherein the piston device actuates in response to the sensor system, wherein the seat is displaced vertically up and laterally toward a centerline of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An inflation module for use in a vehicle, that stiffens a floor structure of a vehicle to lessen the risk of injury to an occupant in side impact collisions, the inflation module comprising:
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an inflator; and
an elongated inflatable structure, securely attached to the floor structure, wherein the elongated inflatable structure is oriented perpendicular to a sidewall of the vehicle, wherein the inflatable structure comprises metal. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A method for lessening the risk of injury to an occupant in side-impact collisions using a the seat mounting structure comprising a linkage system, an inflation module, and a sensor system, the method comprising:
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sensing an impending side impact;
actuating the inflation module to displace the seat mount; and
guiding the seat mount vertically up and laterally toward a centerline of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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Specification