Vehicle seat

• US 6,042,190 A
• Filed: 09/21/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Mathe, Willi, Steiner, Martin, Mitschelen, Rolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US09/157,410
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 297/483, 297/484, 297/486, 297/468, 297/470, 297/216.1, 297/216.13, 297/216.15, 297/216.19, 297/216.2, 297/238, 280/808
• US Class Current: 297/483
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1803 with independent front and/or rear adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/181 Rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/34 into a bed
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/995 Lower-leg-rests, e.g. calf-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/028 specially adapted for use in sleeping position, e.g. for reclining seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/023 Three-point seat belt systems comprising two side lower and one side upper anchoring devices B60R22/022, B60R22/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/24 secured to the side, door, or roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat

Abstract

A vehicle seat with a seat cushion, adjustably fixed to the floor of the vehicle, and a backrest, which can be adjusted with respect to the seat cushion, is provided with a restraining device for the seat user. The restraint comprises a three-point safety belt and an additional belt. For optimum protection of the seat user in the resting position and also to prevent so-called submarining, a fixed adjustment of seat cushion and backrest is provided in the resting position in such a manner that the backrest is swiveled about an obtuse angle with respect to the seat cushion, and the seat cushion is shifted into a predetermined front position in the driving direction and inclined towards the rear. The additional belt extends as a transverse shoulder belt from the upper edge of the backrest to a belt buckle disposed near the floor.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat and restraining system of a vehicle having a floor and side wall, comprising:

a seat cushion adapted to be adjustably fixable to the floor;

a backrest adjustable with respect to the seat cushion;

a restraining device for a seat user, said restraining device including;

(i) a three-point safety belt including a shoulder belt extending in a seated position of the seat user over a chest of the seat user from a first belt fixing point disposable above an upper edge of the backrest at the sidewall of the vehicle to a detachable belt buckle forming a second belt fixing point fastenable in a floor area on a side of the vehicle seat away from the side wall, and a pelvis belt extending over a pelvis of the seat user from the detachable belt buckle to a third belt fixing point disposable in the floor area on a side of the vehicle seat facing the side wall; and

(ii) an additional belt usable in a swiveled position of the backrest which is intended as a resting position for the seat user, said additional belt being tightenable over a chest of the seat user to a second belt buckle;

wherein in the resting position of the seat user, a fixed adjustment of the seat cushion and backrest is provided such that the backrest is swiveled through an obtuse angle relative to the seat cushion and the seat cushion is shifted into a front, predetermined position such that the seat cushion is inclined toward a rear of the vehicle; and

further wherein the additional belt extends as a transverse shoulder belt from an upper edge of the backrest to the second belt buckle which is disposable close to the floor of the vehicle.

2. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the additional belt is fastened to the upper edge of the backrest on the side of the vehicle seat facing the side wall of the vehicle, and the second belt buckle is disposed on the side of the vehicle seat away from the side wall of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the backrest includes a frame, and further comprising a belt retractor fastened to the frame of the backrest, said additional belt being accommodated at one end in the upper edge of the backrest in the belt retractor.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 3, wherein the frame of the backrest is reinforced to absorb potential forces acting on the additional belt.

5. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the backrest includes a frame, and further comprising a belt retractor fastened to the frame of the backrest, said additional belt being accommodated at one end in the upper edge of the backrest in the belt retractor.

6. The vehicle seat according to claim 5, wherein the frame of the backrest is reinforced to absorb potential forces acting on the additional belt.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein an automatic coupling between the additional belt and the three-point safety belt is provided such that the additional belt cannot be pulled out of the belt retractor until the belt buckle of the three-point safety belt is closed.

8. The vehicle seat according to claim 5, wherein an automatic coupling between the additional belt and the three-point safety belt is provided such that the additional belt cannot be pulled out of the belt retractor until the belt buckle of the three-point safety belt is closed.

9. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, further comprising a memory device, wherein an adjustment of the seat cushion and the backrest in the resting position is stored in the memory device and, upon recall from the memory device, the seat cushion and the backrest are automatically adjusted into the resting position.

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 9, further comprising servo motors operatively coupled to the seat cushion and the backrest, said servo motors performing the automatic adjustment of the seat cushion and the backrest.

11. The vehicle seat according to claim 9, further comprising a manually operating function key automatically recalling the resting position for adjusting the seat cushion and the backrest.

12. The vehicle seat according to claim 9, further comprising a microswitch disposed in the second belt buckle, wherein the resting position of the seat cushion and backrest is initiated upon closing the second belt buckle by inserting a locking tab on the additional belt.

13. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, further comprising a lower leg support disposed at the seat cushion, said lower leg support lying within a contour of the seat cushion in a seated position and being automatically shifted in the resting position into a thigh-supporting position.

14. The vehicle seat according to claim 13, wherein the lower leg support further comprises a longitudinal support which is shiftable longitudinally in guides in the seat cushion, and a padded support pivotally disposed on an end of the longitudinal support.

15. An occupant safety system, comprising:

a vehicle having a floor and a side wall;

a vehicle seat comprising a seat cushion adjustably fixed to the floor and a backrest adjustable with respect to the seat cushion;

a seat cushion adjustably fixed to the floor;

a backrest adjustable with respect to the seat cushion;

a restraining device for a seat user, said restraining device including;

(i) a three-point safety belt including a shoulder belt extending in a seated position of the seat user over a chest of the seat user from a first belt fixing point disposed above an upper edge of the backrest at the sidewall of the vehicle to a detachable belt buckle forming a second belt fixing point fastened in a floor area on a side of the vehicle seat away from the side wall, and a pelvis belt extending over a pelvis of the seat user from the detachable belt buckle to a third belt fixing point disposed in the floor area on a side of the vehicle seat facing the side wall; and

(ii) an additional belt usable in a swiveled position of the backrest which is intended as a resting position for the seat user, said additional belt being tightenable over a chest of the seat user to a second belt buckle;

wherein in the resting position of the seat user, a fixed adjustment of the seat cushion and backrest is provided such that the backrest is swiveled through an obtuse angle relative to the seat cushion and the seat cushion is shifted into a front, predetermined position such that the seat cushion is inclined toward a rear of the vehicle; and

further wherein the additional belt extends as a transverse shoulder belt from an upper edge of the backrest to the second belt buckle which is disposed close to the floor of the vehicle.

16. The safety system according to claim 15, wherein the additional belt is fastened to the upper edge of the backrest on the side of the vehicle seat facing the side wall of the vehicle, and the second belt buckle is disposed on the side of the vehicle seat away from the side wall of the vehicle.

17. The safety system according to claim 15, wherein the backrest includes a frame, and further comprising a belt retractor fastened to the frame of the backrest, said additional belt being accommodated at one end in the upper edge of the backrest in the belt retractor.

18. The safety system according to claim 17, wherein the frame of the backrest is reinforced to absorb potential forces acting on the additional belt.

19. The safety system according to claim 18, wherein an automatic coupling between the additional belt and the three-point safety belt is provided such that the additional belt cannot be pulled out of the belt retractor until the belt buckle of the three-point safety belt is closed.

20. The safety system according to claim 15, further comprising a memory device, wherein an adjustment of the seat cushion and the backrest in the resting position is stored in the memory device and, upon recall from the memory device, the seat cushion and the backrest are automatically adjusted into the resting position.