Energy Absorption Systems for Vehicles
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle includes an energy absorber that is positionable rearward of a passenger seat to absorb energy from a force having a forward component and being directed toward the rear surface of the passenger seat. In one exemplary embodiment, the energy absorber is a cellular material. In another exemplary embodiment, the energy absorber is a selectively inflatable cushion. A corresponding seat assembly is also provided.
19 Citations
14 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. A vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle body defining a passenger compartment; a first seat assembly mounted with respect to the vehicle body, said first seat assembly including a first seatback portion having a frame; a second seat assembly mounted with respect to the vehicle body rearward of the first seat assembly; and an energy absorber mounted with respect to the first seatback portion and being positionable between the frame of the first seatback portion and the second seat assembly; wherein the first seatback portion includes a cover; and
wherein the energy absorber is between the cover and the frame; and
wherein the energy absorber is material configured to absorb energy from an impact. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle body defining a passenger compartment; a first seat assembly mounted with respect to the vehicle body, said first seat assembly including a first seatback portion having a frame; a second seat assembly mounted with respect to the vehicle body rearward of the first seat assembly; and an energy absorber mounted with respect to the first seatback portion and being positionable between the frame of the first seatback portion and the second seat assembly; wherein the energy absorber is a selectively inflatable restraint cushion mounted with respect to the vehicle body; wherein the cushion is selectively inflatable from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration; and wherein the cushion in the deployed configuration is between the first seatback portion and the second seat assembly. - View Dependent Claims (9, 13)
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8. (canceled)
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10. A vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle body defining a passenger compartment; a first seat assembly mounted with respect to the vehicle body, said first seat assembly including a first seatback portion having a frame; a second seat assembly mounted with respect to the vehicle body rearward of the first seat assembly; an energy absorber mounted with respect to the vehicle body and being positionable between the frame of the first seatback portion and the second seat assembly; wherein the energy absorber is a selectively inflatable restraint cushion mounted with respect to the vehicle body, wherein the cushion is selectively inflatable from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration, and wherein the cushion in the deployed configuration is between the first seatback portion and the second seat assembly; wherein the vehicle includes a third seat assembly forward of the second seat assembly and laterally positioned with respect to the first seat assembly, wherein the third seat assembly includes a second seatback portion, and wherein the cushion in the deployed configuration extends laterally such that a first portion of the cushion is directly rearward of the first seatback portion and a second portion of the cushion is directly rearward of the second seatback portion; wherein the first seat assembly and the third seat assembly are spaced a distance apart from one another; wherein the vehicle further includes a console between the first seat assembly and the third seat assembly; wherein the cushion in the deployed configuration includes a third portion between the first and second portions; and wherein the third portion of the cushion is characterized by a greater height dimension than the first and second portions when the cushion is in the deployed configuration.
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11-12. -12. (canceled)
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14-18. -18. (canceled)
Specification