Vehicle occupant protection system by pivoting seats upward in case of a crash

• US 20100019555A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chien-Chung Feng
• Original Assignee: Chien-Chung Feng
• Inventors: Feng, Chien-Chung
• Granted Patent: US 7,887,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/216.190
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4235 transversal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42754 of the cushion
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering

Abstract

A vehicle occupant protection system in one embodiment includes a control device disposed in a front portion of a vehicle body; a plurality of first sensors mounted in the front portion of the vehicle body; two first actuators each mounted under a front seat equipped with a first seat belt; and a second actuator mounted under a rear seat equipped with a plurality of second seat belts; wherein each of the first sensors is adapted to detect a vehicle crash and send an activation signal to the control device when it occurs, and the activated control device is adapted to activate the first and second actuators to pivot the front and rear seats upward a predetermined angle to push seated vehicle occupants rearward.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

a control device disposed in a front portion of a vehicle body;

a plurality of first sensors mounted in the front portion of the vehicle body;

two first actuators each mounted under a front seat equipped with a first seat belt; and

a second actuator mounted under a rear seat equipped with a plurality of second seat belts;

wherein each of the first sensors is adapted to detect a vehicle crash and send an activation signal to the control device when it occurs, and the activated control device is adapted to activate the first and second actuators to pivot the front and rear seats upward a predetermined angle to push seated vehicle occupants rearward.

2. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 1, wherein the first sensors are electronic sensors.

3. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 1, wherein the control device comprises a hydraulic pump and an electronic control unit (ECU) for controlling an activation of the hydraulic pump.

4. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 1, wherein the control device comprises an air compressor and an ECU for controlling an activation of the air compressor.

5. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 1, wherein each of the first actuators comprises:

a first unit including a rectangular frame member and two spaced first cylinders extending rearward from a front end of the frame member;

a second unit including two spaced second cylinders, a third cylinder, and a pivot assembly connected to the second and third cylinders;

a third unit secured to the third cylinder and including two fourth cylinders;

a fourth unit including a rectangular frame element pivotably secured to the fourth cylinders; and

a fifth unit for supporting the fourth unit.

6. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 5, wherein each of the cylinders has one piston rod.

7. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 5, wherein each of the cylinders has two opposite piston rods.

8. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of second sensors mounted in a rear portion of the vehicle body, each of the second sensors adapted to detect a vehicle crash and send an activation signal to the control device when it occurs.

9. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 8, wherein the second sensors are electronic sensors.

10. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of third sensors mounted in both sides of the vehicle body, each of the third sensors is adapted to detect a vehicle crash and send an activation signal to the control device when it occurs.

11. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 10, wherein the third sensors are electronic sensors.

12. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 10, wherein the third actuator comprises:

a first section having an open top;

a second section pivotably mounted in the first section and including first, second, and third compartments and two inclined cylinders each interconnecting the bottom of the second compartment and a front end thereof; and

a third section including two side cases each having an open top and pivotably secured to either one of the first and third compartments; and

an intermediate case having an open top and including two U-shaped rods each slidably passing both sides to secured to either side case, and two lateral cylinders each interconnecting the side the intermediate case and a longitudinal portion of the U-shaped rod.

13. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 12, wherein the control device, in response to receiving an activation signal sent from one of the third sensors, is adapted to activate the second actuator to pivot the outer sides of the side cases upward a predetermined angle and push the side cases toward the intermediate case in response to a side crash.

14. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 12, wherein each of the inclined and lateral cylinders has one piston rod.

15. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 12, wherein each of the inclined and lateral cylinders has two opposite piston rods.

16. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second actuators is controlled by the control device by means of a pneumatic arrangement.

17. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second actuators is controlled by the control device by means of an electromagnetic arrangement.

18. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second actuators is controlled by the control device by means of a linking mechanism.

19. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second actuators is controlled by the control device by means of a hydraulic arrangement.