Safety passenger seat apparatus
First Claim
1. A safety passenger seat apparatus for a vehicle of the type having relatively fixed support structure, said apparatus comprising:
- a passenger seat having a seat rest portion moveable substantially linearly with respect to said support structure and a back rest portion pivotally moveable with respect to said seat rest portion,a single energy transformer for absorbing energy connected to said support structure, andconnecting means operatively connecting said passenger seat to said energy transformer such that pivotal movement of said back rest portion with respect to said seat rest portion, movement of said seat rest portion with respect to said support structure or both upon collision of said vehicle causes energy absorption by said energy transformer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Safety passenger seat apparatus for a vehicle including a passenger seat having a backrest pivotally attached to a seat rest. Energy absorption devices are provided for dissipating and absorbing collison and/or deceleration forces acting on the seat or a passenger in the seat, which energy absorption devices utilize both pivotal and linear movement of portions of the seat during the energy absorption. In one preferred embodiment, a rotation energy transformer is provided at the pivotal connection between the backrest and the seat rest, while a further rotation energy transformer is provided at the attachment of the seat rest to a fixed foot support structure. This preferred embodiment further includes a linear energy transformer which frictionally dissipates energy during linear movement of the foot and attached seat along guide rails fixed in the floor of the vehicle. The energy absorption characteristics of the absorbing transformers are different so as to accommodate a predetermined desired series of relative movements of the seat parts in the event of a collision. In another preferred embodiment, a child'"'"'s seat is constructed with a pull member attached to the backrest and passed over a pulley attached to the seat rest, which pull member is than connected to a linear energy transformer. In the child'"'"'s seat embodiment, both pivotal movement of the backrest with respect to the seat rest and linear movement of the seat are obtained.
16 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A safety passenger seat apparatus for a vehicle of the type having relatively fixed support structure, said apparatus comprising:
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a passenger seat having a seat rest portion moveable substantially linearly with respect to said support structure and a back rest portion pivotally moveable with respect to said seat rest portion, a single energy transformer for absorbing energy connected to said support structure, and connecting means operatively connecting said passenger seat to said energy transformer such that pivotal movement of said back rest portion with respect to said seat rest portion, movement of said seat rest portion with respect to said support structure or both upon collision of said vehicle causes energy absorption by said energy transformer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A child'"'"'s safety passenger seat apparatus for a vehicle of the type having a relatively fixed support structure including a relatively fixed vehicle seat, said apparatus comprising:
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a child'"'"'s seat having a seat rest portion moveable substantially linearly with respect to said support structure and a back rest portion pivotally moveable forwardly with respect to said seat rest portion when said seat rest portion moves forwardly upon collision of said vehicle, a support member attached to a forward part of said seat rest portion and pivotally mounted on said fixed support structure, a single energy transformer connected to said fixed support structure for absorbing energy upon stressing thereof, a pull member attached on one end to said energy transformer and on the other end to said back rest portion, and a reversing device fastened to said seat rest portion, said pull member passing through and engaging said reversing device.
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Specification