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Vehicle seat with multifunction backrest

  • US 5,836,648 A
  • Filed: 10/31/1997
  • Issued: 11/17/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A vehicle seat, comprising:

  • a seat part;

    a backrest having a top backrest part and a bottom backrest part, said backrest parts being pivotably connected;

    an adjustment means for varying inclination of said backrest relative to said seat part; and

    a clamping device, coupled to said backrest parts, providing a clamping force for restraining relative pivoting of said backrest parts during normal vehicle operating conditions and for allowing said top backrest part to pivot relative to said bottom backrest part to intercept a seat occupant in response to an actuating force from the seat occupant overcoming said clamping force and causing pivoting of said top backrest part during crash conditions, said clamping device including a horizontal pivot axle pivotably coupled to said top backrest part by a slip clutch, said slip clutch being adjustable to vary said clamping force and being adjusted to a threshold value for said actuation force associated with crash conditions, said actuation force overcoming said clamping force of said slip clutch and causing forward pivoting of said top backrest part about said pivot axle, said clamping device also including an adjustment device for selectively positioning said top backrest part in a desired angular position relative to said bottom backrest part within a predetermined range.

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