Automobile seat

• US 20050140190A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Kogyo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Delta Kogyo Company Limited
• Inventors: Kawashima, Yoshihito
• Granted Patent: US 7,070,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/216.140
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4228 due to impact coming from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42709 involving residual deformation or fracture of the structure
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/682 Joining means

Abstract

An automobile seat includes a seat cushion and a seat back tiltably mounted on the seat cushion. The automobile seat also includes a seat cushion frame, a side frame mounted on the seat cushion frame, a seat back frame mounted on the side frame so as to be rotatable within a limited angle, and a fastening member mounted on the seat back frame. The side frame has an insertion hole defined therein in which the fastening member is inserted and also has an impact absorbing structure. Where a load greater than a predetermined value is inputted to the seat from behind, a lower portion of the seat back frame is pushed upon a rearward movement of a seat occupant to thereby cause the fastening member to move rearwards while deforming the impact absorbing structure. As a result, the seat back frame rotates with respect to the side frame, and an impact is absorbed by the deformation of the impact absorbing structure.

Claims

1. An automobile seat having a seat cushion and a seat back tiltably mounted on the seat cushion, comprising:

a seat cushion frame;

a side frame mounted on the seat cushion frame;

a seat back frame mounted on the side frame so as to be rotatable within a limited angle;

a fastening member mounted on the seat back frame; and

the side frame having an insertion hole defined therein in which the fastening member is inserted, the side frame also having an impact absorbing structure;

wherein the seat back frame is fixed to the side frame by the fastening member in a normal condition; and

wherein where a load greater than a predetermined value is inputted from behind, a lower portion of the seat back frame is pushed upon a rearward movement of a seat occupant to thereby cause the fastening member to move rearwards while deforming the impact absorbing structure, thus causing the seat back frame to rotate with respect to the side frame and absorbing an impact.

2. The automobile seat according to claim 1, wherein an amount of rearward movement of the fastening member depends on a magnitude of the load inputted from behind.

3. The automobile seat according to claim 1, wherein the side frame comprises an inner side frame interposed between the seat cushion frame and the side frame, wherein the impact absorbing structure is formed in the inner side frame.

4. The automobile seat according to claim 1, wherein the impact absorbing structure comprises a plurality of impact absorbing holes formed in proximity to the insertion hole for the fastening member.

5. The automobile seat according to claim 1, wherein the impact absorbing structure comprises an elongated hole communicating with the insertion hole for the fastening member, the elongated hole having a width less than a diameter of the fastening member.

6. The automobile seat according to claim 1, wherein the insertion hole for the fastening member is an elongated hole, and the impact absorbing structure comprises a ridge formed adjacent to the elongated hole and an engaging member having a side wall confronting the ridge, the fastening member extending through the engaging member.

7. The automobile seat according to claim 1, further comprising a head rest mounted on an upper portion of the seat back, wherein the headrest is moved forwards upon rotation of the seat back frame.