ENERGY ABSORBING SEAT SUPPORT ASSEMBLY

• US 3,806,190 A
• Filed: 07/20/1972
• Issued: 04/23/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gerald R. Winslow
• Original Assignee: Gerald R. Winslow
• Inventors: Winslow, Gerald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilliam, Paul R.
• Application Number:
  US05/273,437
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216 188/1C
• US Class Current: 297/216.18
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4214 longitudinal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42709 involving residual deformation or fracture of the structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42736 of the whole seat

Abstract

An assembly for supporting a vehicle seat for energy absorbing movement within a vehicle in response to abrupt vehicle acceleration or deceleration. The assembly includes a first track member mounted on the vehicle body floor extending longitudinally of the vehicle and having a pair of plastically deformable flange portions spaced laterally relative to each other and extending along the length of this track member with generally continuous contours interrupted by arcuate depressions. A second track member of the assembly supports the seat and has laterally spaced flange portions which mount plastic guide members that slidably receive the flange portions of the first track member to support the seat for movement longitudinally of the vehicle. A pair of bolts mount the base portion of a die member on the second track member with arcuate deforming portions of the die member respectively received within the arcuate depressions in the flange portions of the first track member so as to plastically deform these flange portions as the seat moves longitudinally of the vehicle in response to abrupt changes in the rate of vehicle movement. Spacers of varying thicknesses are readily interposed between the second track member and the base portion of the die member to allow control of the degree to which the deforming portions are received within the depressions and the consequent degree of plastic deformation and quantity of energy absorbed during a given unit length of seat movement.

Claims

1. In combination with a vehicle including a floor and a seat, an energy absorbing seat support assembly comprising, an elongated first track member mounted on the floor extending longitudinally of the vehicle, an elongated second track member slidable on the first track member and supporting the seat for movement longitudinally of the vehicle, one of the track members including a pair of plastically deformable flange portions spaced laterally relative to each other and having generally continuous contours along the longitudinal length of this track member, these flange portions defining abrupt laterally spaced preformed depressions at a predetermined position along the length of the one track member, a die member with a pair of laterally spaced deforming portions, and means for mounting the die member on the other track member with the deforming portions received within the depressions defined by the flange portions of the one track member to plastically deform these flange portions when the seat moves longitudinally of the vehicle in response to abrupt vehicle acceleration or deceleration, the mounting means being readily adaptable to receive spacing members of various thickness between the die member and the other track member to control the degree the deforming portions are received within the depressions defined by the flange portions of the one track member and to thereby control the degree of plastic deformation and quantity of energy absorbed during a given unit length of seat movement.

2. In combination with a vehicle including a floor and a seat, an energy absorbing seat support assembly comprising, an elongated first track member mounted on the floor extending longitudinally of the vehicle and including a pair of plastically deformable flange portions spaced laterally relative to each other and having generally continuous contours along the length of this track member, the flange portions defining preformed abrupt arcuate depressions spaced laterally relative to each other at a predetermined position along the continuous contours of these flange portions, an elongated second track member supporting the seat and including laterally spaced flange portions slidably receiving the flange portions of the first track member to support the seat for movement longitudinally of the vehicle, a die member including a base portion with a pair of integral deforming portions spaced laterally relative to each other and having arcuate configurations, and means for mounting the die member on the second track member with the deforming portions received within the depressions in the flange portions of the first track member to plastically deform these flange portions when the seat moves longitudinally of the vehicle in response to abrupt vehicle acceleration or deceleration, the mounting means being readily adaptable to receive spacing members of various thickness between the second track member and the base portion of the die member to allow control of the degree to which the deforming portions are received within the depressions and the consequent degree of plastic deformation of the flange portions and quantity of energy absorbed during a unit length of seat movement.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the longitudinal energy absorbing movement of the seat may be in either a forward or rearward direction.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein the flange portions of the second track member slidably receive the flange portions of the first track member by way of plastic guide members.