Energy absorbing seat recliner assembly
First Claim
1. An energy absorption system for a seat assembly having a seatback rotatably supported by a seat bottom, the energy absorption system comprising:
- a first housing plate including a first elongate aperture formed therein defining a first end and a second end;
a second housing plate including a second elongate aperture formed therein defining a first end and a second end and coaxially aligned with said first elongate aperture;
a torsion bar slidably received within said first elongate aperture and said second elongate aperture and fixed for movement with the vehicle seatback;
a biasing member biasing said torsion bar toward said first ends of said elongate apertures;
wherein said torsion bar is configured to overcome said biasing member and move from said first ends of said first and second elongate apertures to said second ends of said first and second elongate apertures when a first predetermined force is applied to the seatback; and
wherein said torsion bar is configured to yield upon reaching said second ends of said elongate apertures when a second predetermined force is applied to the seatback.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy absorption system for a seat assembly includes a first housing plate and a second housing plate defining coaxial elongate apertures having a first end and a second end. A torsion bar is fixed for movement with the seatback and is slidably received within the elongate apertures and a biasing member is supported by one of the housing plates and imparts a biasing force on the torsion bar to bias the torsion bar toward the first ends of the elongate apertures. When a force is applied to the torsion bar, the torsion bar moves toward the second end of the apertures and against the biasing force to absorb energy associated with the force. When the torsion bar reaches the second end of the apertures, the torsion bar may yield to further absorb energy.
107 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An energy absorption system for a seat assembly having a seatback rotatably supported by a seat bottom, the energy absorption system comprising:
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a first housing plate including a first elongate aperture formed therein defining a first end and a second end;
a second housing plate including a second elongate aperture formed therein defining a first end and a second end and coaxially aligned with said first elongate aperture;
a torsion bar slidably received within said first elongate aperture and said second elongate aperture and fixed for movement with the vehicle seatback;
a biasing member biasing said torsion bar toward said first ends of said elongate apertures;
wherein said torsion bar is configured to overcome said biasing member and move from said first ends of said first and second elongate apertures to said second ends of said first and second elongate apertures when a first predetermined force is applied to the seatback; and
wherein said torsion bar is configured to yield upon reaching said second ends of said elongate apertures when a second predetermined force is applied to the seatback. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An energy absorption system for a seat assembly having a seatback rotatably supported by a seat bottom, the energy absorption system comprising:
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a first housing plate including a first elongate aperture formed therein defining a first end and a second end;
a second housing plate including a second elongate aperture formed therein defining a first end and a second end coaxially aligned with said first elongate aperture;
a torsion bar slidably received within said first elongate aperture and said second elongate aperture and fixed for movement with the vehicle seatback;
a biasing member biasing said torsion bar toward said first ends of said elongate apertures;
wherein the seatback is configured to move linearly along a first axis when a first predetermined force is applied to the seatback; and
wherein the seatback is configured to move rotationally when a second predetermined force is applied to the seatback. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An energy absorption system for a seat assembly having a seatback rotatably supported by a seat bottom comprising:
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a guide bracket fixed to said seat bottom and including an elongate aperture;
a recliner bracket fixed for movement with the vehicle seatback and including a first projection extending therefrom and disposed within said elongate aperture of said guide bracket to guide movement of the seatback relative to the seat bottom;
a link having a first end and a second end, said first end rotatably attached to said recliner bracket; and
a torsion bar fixedly attached to said second end of said link at a first end and attached to said guide bracket at a second end, said torsion bar deformed when a predetermined force is applied to the seatback due to movement of said recliner bracket and rotation of said link. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification