Seat and occupant restraint system

• US 5,451,094 A
• Filed: 06/27/1994
• Issued: 09/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Hurley, William J., Williams, Jeffry L., Freeman, Keith H., Templin, Harry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US08/266,020
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.16, 297/216.17, 297/216.19, 297/216.2, 297/480, 297/468, 296/68.1
• US Class Current: 297/216.17
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4242 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42736 of the whole seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4609 using a plurality of tensioners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1951 characterised by arrangements in vehicle or relative to seat belt
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1955 Linear actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

A restraint system for moving a vehicle seat and occupant toward the vehicle floor. A fluid cylinder pivotally mounted to the floor has an extendable piston rod connected to a linkage mounted to the vehicle seat. A three point belt assembly mounted to the seat is connected to the cylinder rod. Retraction of the cylinder rod pretensions or tightens the three point buckle assembly and subsequently moves the seat towards the vehicle floor.

Claims

1. A seat restraint system mountable to a vehicle floor comprising:

a seat frame and seat;

vehicle suspension seat means connected to said scat frame and seat and for mounting to a vehicle floor operable to allow said seat frame and seat to move to and from the vehicle floor;

belt means mounted to said seat frame and seat to restrain an occupant thereon; and

,

seat retracting means connected to said seat frame and seat operable to move said seat frame and seat toward the vehicle floor upon crash and wherein;

said seat retracting means includes a fluid cylinder and a source of pressurized fluid connected thereto, said fluid cylinder has a retractable cylinder rod connected to said seat frame and seat, said seat retracting means upon crash applying fluid pressure to said fluid cylinder moving said cylinder rod to move said seat frame and seat toward the vehicle floor.

2. A seat restraint system mountable to a vehicle floor comprising:

a seat frame and said;

vehicle suspension seat means connected to said seat frame and seat and for mounting to a vehicle floor operable to allow said seat frame and seat to move to and from the vehicle floor;

belt means mounted to said seat frame and seat to restrain an occupant thereon; and

,

seat retracting means connected to said seat frame and seat operable to move said seat frame and seat toward the vehicle floor upon crash and further comprising;

timing means associated with said belt means and said seat retracting means with said timing means operable with said seat retracting means to tighten said belt means prior to said seat retracting means moving said seat frame and seat toward the vehicle floor.

3. The seat restraint system of claim 2 wherein:

said timing means includes a member movably mounted to said seat frame and seat and connected between said seal retracting means and said belt means, said member including a pre-crash position and a crash position on said seat frame and seat with said seat retracting means moving said member from said pre-crash position while pulling and lightening said belt means to said crash position whereat further movement of said seat retracting means moves said seat frame and seat toward the vehicle floor.

4. The seat restraint system of claim 3 wherein:

said member is pivotally mounted to said seat frame and seat at a first pivot joint with said seat retracting means connected to said member at a second pivot joint, said seat retracting means includes an axis extending through said second pivot joint, said first pivot joint moves to a location on said axis when in said crash position.

5. A seat restraint system mountable to a vehicle floor comprising:

a vehicle suspension seat;

suspension means connected to said seat and for connecting to a vehicle floor and operable to allow said seat to allow said seat to move to and from the vehicle floor;

a belt mounted to said seat to restrain an occupant thereon; and

,

a seat retractor connected to said seat to move said seat toward the vehicle floor upon crash and wherein;

said seat retractor includes a fluid cylinder and a source of pressurized fluid connected thereto, said fluid cylinder has a retractable cylinder rod connected to said seat, said seat retractor upon crash applying fluid pressure to said fluid cylinder moving said cylinder rod to move said seat toward the vehicle floor.

6. A seat restraint system mountable to a vehicle floor comprising:

a vehicle suspension seat;

suspension means connected to said seat and for connecting to a vehicle floor and operable to allow said seat to move to and from the vehicle floor;

a belt mounted to said seat to restrain an occupant thereon; and

,

a seat retractor connected to said seat to move said seat toward the vehicle floor upon crash and further comprising;

a timer means associated with said belt and said seat retractor for tightening said belt prior to said seat retractor moving said seat toward the vehicle floor.

7. The seat restraint system of claim 6 wherein:

said timer means includes a member movably mounted to said seat and connected between said seat retractor and said belt, said member including a pre-crash position and a crash position on said seat with said seat retractor moving said member from said pre-crash position while pulling and tightening said belt to said crash position whereat further movement of said seat retractor moves said seat toward the vehicle floor.

8. A seat restraint system for a vehicle comprising:

a seat;

a mount;

seat retracting means fixed to said mount and connected between said seat and said mount and operable upon crash to move said seat toward said mount;

belt means mounted to said seat operable to restrain an occupant thereon; and

,

belt retracting means connected between said seat retracting means and said belt means and operable upon crash to tighten said belt means prior to said seat retracting means moving said seat toward said mount.