Vehicle seat with shock absorption

• US 5,836,647 A
• Filed: 05/20/1997
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yolanda A. Youngblood
• Original Assignee: Ben Turman
• Inventors: Turman, Ben
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US08/859,190
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.1, 297/216.15, 297/216.16, 297/216.18, 297/216.19, 297/284.3, 297/284.4, 297/284.6, 297/284.7, 297/353, 297/216.14, 248/548, 248/900
• US Class Current: 297/216.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2222 the back-rest having two or more parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4228 due to impact coming from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42745 of the back-rest B60N2/433 takes precedence; higher part of the back-rest moving together with the headrest B60N2/888
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/818 with stepwise positioning
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/2204 Adjustable back-rest height or length
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/90 Movable or disengageable on impact or overload

Abstract

A vehicle seat construction with a rear impact energy absorbing damping system along with a fully adjustable, fitted, contoured seat back. First and second damping systems are provided, the first being between the seat base and the floor of the vehicle with the second being between the seat base and seat: back. The damping systems include shock absorbing devices in the track construction and in the seat base construction in the region of connection to the seat back. The seat back is provided with a vertical telescoping and pivoting support frame arrangement for height and contour adjustment for the occupant, and air bags for adjusting the contour of the seat back to the back of the occupant. The seat back construction includes configurable and positionable components for the lower back, the middle back and the head/neck area of the occupant, each component including inflatable pockets for contouring of the front surface of the seat back.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat base;

a seat back;

track means coacting with said seat base for movably supporting the seat within the vehicle;

first energy absorbing means in coacting relation between said seat base and said track means;

means on said base for supporting said seat back;

energy absorbing means coacting between said supporting means and said seat base, and

wherein shear means affixes said seat base to said track means whereby, on impact with the rear of the vehicle, said shear means shears thereby enabling relative movement between said seat base and said track means under damped control of said first energy absorbing means.

2. The seat according to claim 1 wherein the seat back includes first, second and third component parts for the lower back, middle back and head/neck areas of an occupant, with said component parts being adjustable relative to one another.

3. The seat according to claim 2 wherein said component parts are interconnected for angular positioning, each relative to an adjacent interconnected component part.

4. The seat according to claim 3 wherein said component parts are interconnected for displacement from one another in the direction of the longitudinal centerline of the seat back, each relative to an adjacent interconnected component part.

5. The seat according to claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes shear means whereupon shearing thereof under force of an impact with the rear of the vehicle there is rearward movement of said seat back relative to said seat base under damped control of said energy absorbing means coacting between said supporting means and said seat base.

6. The seat according to claim 5 wherein said seat back is adjustable to conform and contour said seat back surface to the back of an occupant, and said seat back includes first, second and third component parts for the lower back, middle back and head/neck areas of the occupant, with said component parts being adjustable relative to one another.

7. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat base;

track means coacting with said seat base for adjustably supporting the seat within the vehicle;

means for mounting at least one first shock absorber between said seat base and said track means;

a seat back;

means on said seat base for pivotally supporting said seat back;

at least one second shock absorber connected in coacting relation between said seat back and said seat base; and

shear means affixing said seat base to said track means for providing upon shearing shock absorbed movement between said seat base and said track means.

10. The seat according to claim 7 wherein said seat back includes first, second and third component parts for the lower back, middle back and head/neck areas of an occupant, with said component parts being adjustable relative to one another for enabling contouring and dimensioning of the seat back to conform to the anatomy of the occupant.

11. The seat according to claim 10 wherein said component parts are interconnected for angular positioning, each relative to an adjacent interconnected component part.

12. The seat according to claim 11 wherein said component parts are interconnected for displacement from one another in the direction of the longitudinal centerline of the seat back, each relative to an adjacent interconnected component part.

8. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat base;

track means coacting with said seat base for adjustably supporting the seat within the vehicle;

means for mounting at least one first shock absorber between said seat base and said track means;

a seat back;

means on said seat base for pivotally supporting said seat back;

at least one second shock absorber connected in coacting relation between said seat back and said seat base; and

wherein said mounting means includes at least one shear pin affixing said seat base to said track means whereby, on impact with the rear of the vehicle, the shear pin shears thereby enabling relative movement between said seat base and said track means under damped control of said at least one first shock absorber.

9. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat base;

track means coacting with said seat base for adjustably supporting the seat within the vehicle;

means for mounting at least one first shock absorber between said seat base and said track means;

a seat back;

means on said seat base for pivotally supporting said seat back;

at least one second shock absorber connected in coacting relation between said seat back and said seat base; and

wherein said supporting means includes a shearable member for permitting rearward movement of said seat back relative to said seat base on shearing thereof under force of an impact with the rear of the vehicle thereby enabling rearward movement of said seat back relative to said seat base under damped control of said at least one second shock absorber.

13. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat base;

track means coacting with said seat base for movably supporting the seat within the vehicle;

means for mounting at least one first shock absorber between said seat base and said track means, said mounting means;

including at least one first shear member for normally fixing the position of said seat base relative to said track means;

a seat back;

means on said seat base for pivotally supporting said seat back; and

means for attachment of at least one second shock absorber in coacting relation between said seat back and said seat base, said attachment means including at least one second shear member for normally preventing rearward movement of said seat back relative to said seat base, whereby, under force of a rear impact on the vehicle, said at least one first and second shear members shear enabling rearward movement of said seat back relative to said seat base under damped control of said at least one second shock absorber and enabling rearward movement of said seat base relative to said track means under damped control of said at least one first shock absorber.

14. The seat according to claim 13 wherein the seat back includes first, second and third component parts for the lower back, middle back and head/neck areas of an occupant, with said component parts being adjustable relative to one another.

15. The seat according to claim 14 wherein said component parts are interconnected for angular positioning, each relative to an adjacent interconnected component part.

16. The seat according to claim 15 wherein said component parts are interconnected for displacement from one another in the direction of the longitudinal centerline of the seat back, each relative to an adjacent interconnected component part.

17. The seat according to claim 13 wherein said seat back is adjustable to conform and contour the seat back surface to the back of an occupant.

18. A vehicle seat having a seat base mounted on a track for movably supporting the seat to the floor of said vehicle, and a seat back, the seat including an energy absorbing damping system and a seat back frame arrangement for height and contour adjustment for an occupant, said seat comprising:

first damping means in coacting relationship between said seat base and said track for absorbing impact energy between said seat base and the floor of said vehicle upon impact of the vehicle;

second damping means in coacting relationship between said seat base and said seat back for absorbing impact energy between said seat base and said seat back upon impact of the vehicle;

telescoping seat means for adjustment for the height of the occupant;

seat back construction including individually configurable and positionable components for the lower back, the middle back, and the head/neck area, each relative to the other, for adjusting the contour of the back of said seat to the back of the occupant.

19. The seat according to claim 18 further including shear means affixed between said seat base and said track whereby, on impact with the rear of the vehicle, said shear means shears thereby enabling relative movement between said seat base and said track under damped control of said first damping means.

20. The seat according to claim 18 further including shear means affixed between said seat base and said seat back whereupon shearing thereof under force of an impact with the rear of the vehicle there is rearward movement of said seat back relative to said seat base under damped control of said second damping means.