TETHER FOR A VEHICLE SEAT

• US 20110204684A1
• Filed: 02/12/2008
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Ligovic, Mario, Rundberget, Peter, Eriksson, Magnus, Forsman, Lars
• Granted Patent: US 8,485,600 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/216.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/502 attached to the base of the seat B60N2/504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/508 Scissors-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/688 Particular seat belt attachment and guiding
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/023 Three-point seat belt systems comprising two side lower and one side upper anchoring devices B60R22/022, B60R22/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

A vehicle seat and the construction of the vehicle seat provide a robust structure which will assure the safety of an occupant in the seat in case of an accident. In particular, a seat having a seat belt of the ‘belt in seat“-kind is provided. The vehicle seat includes a backrest frame and a seat frame connected to each other to form a seat structure. The seat includes further a seat base adapted to be rigidly connected to the frame structure of a vehicle, and the seat base is connected to the seat frame via a seat suspension. The seat further includes a tether which at one of its ends is attached to the back of the seat at a first, upper attachment point and at its other end attached at a second, lower attachment point in order to improve the strength of the seat in case of an accident. The seat is provided with at least one lever arm on the back side of the seat which shall be used as an attachment point for the tether or as a guide or support for the tether located in between the upper attachment point and the lower attachment point. Hence, by prolonging the total lever arm and redirect the direction of the counteractive force working to withstand the forces on the vehicle seat in the case of an accident, an improved performance of the tethering arrangement and thus an improve the safety for a belted person occupying the seat may be achieved.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat (1) comprising a backrest frame (2) and a seat frame (4) connected to each other to form a seat structure, said seat (1) further comprising a seat base (6) adapted to be rigidly connected to the frame structure of a vehicle, said seat base (6) connected to the seat frame (3) via a seat suspension (7), said seat (1) comprising a tether (10) which at one of its ends is attached to the back of the seat at a first, upper attachment point (11) and at its other end attached at a second, lower attachment point 13) characterised in that said seat (1) is provided with at least one lever arm (15,16, or 17) on the back side of the seat (1) to be used as the upper attachment point (11) for the tether (10) or to be used as a lower attachment point (13) for the tether (10) or to be used as a guide or support for the tether (10) located in between the upper attachment point (11) and the lower attachment point (13).

2. A vehicle seat (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that it comprises a lever arm (17) to be used as a guide or support for the tether (10) located in between the upper attachment point (11) and the lower attachment point (13) of the tether (10) which causes the tether (10) to bend at its contact point with the lever arm (17).

3. A vehicle seat (1) according to claim 2 characterised in that said lever arm (17) to be used as a guide or support for the tether (10) located in between the upper attachment point (11) and the lower attachment point (13) is attached to the seat frame (4).

4. A vehicle seat (1) according to any previous claim characterised in that it comprises a lever arm (15) to be used as the upper attachment point (11) for the tether (10).

5. A vehicle seat (1) according to claim 4 characterised in that said lever arm (15) to be used as the upper attachment point (11) for the tether (10) is attached to the backrest frame (2).

6. A vehicle seat (1) according to claim 4 characterised in that said lever arm (15) to be used as the upper attachment point (11) for the tether (10) is attached to the seat frame (4).

7. A vehicle seat (1) according to any previous claim characterised in that it comprises a lever arm (16) to be used as the lower attachment point (13) for the tether (10).

8. A vehicle seat (1) according to claim 7 characterised in that it said lever arm (16) to be used as the lower attachment point (13) for the tether (10) is attached to the seat base (6).

9. A vehicle seat (1) according to any previous claim characterised in that the lower attachment point (13) for the tether (10) is attached to the seat base (6).

10. A vehicle seat (1) according to any previous claim characterised in that said upper attachment point (11) for the tether (10). is attached to the backrest frame (2)

11. A vehicle seat (1) according to any previous claim characterised in that said the suspension arrangement (11) is provided with a damper (24) which is designed to withstand the forces working to compress the front of the seat frame (10) towards the seat base (6).