Vehicle seat

• US 6,062,642 A
• Filed: 04/02/1998
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Vogel, Tim-Bosse, Wohllebe, Thomas, Sinnhuber, Ruprecht
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US09/054,023
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.12, 297/216.13, 297/452.5, 297/452.52, 297/216.1
• US Class Current: 297/216.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4228 due to impact coming from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42709 involving residual deformation or fracture of the structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering

Abstract

In the embodiment described in the specification, a vehicle seat has a framework arrangement with both backrests and seat parts on which a cushion is mounted. The framework arrangement includes a first framework and a second framework which can be displaced relative to the first framework. To reduce the risk of injury to a vehicle seat occupant in the event of rear-impact accidents and/or accidents involving a vehicle turning over, the second framework is supported from the first framework by an energy-absorption structure.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising a seat part and a backrest part each of the seat part and backrest part having a primary support structure and a cushion covering the primary support structure, the primary support structure of the backrest part being connected at a lower end to a rear end of the primary support structure of the seat part, the primary support structure for the backrest part having an associated auxiliary support structure spaced from it on a side facing a seated passenger constituting a backrest frame containing a cushion spring arrangement, and at least one energy absorbing structure connecting the associated auxiliary support structure with the primary support structure for the backrest part, the energy-absorbing structure being plastically deformable by action of forces resulting from an impact to reduce the spacing between the primary support structure and the auxiliary support structure.

2. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 wherein each primary support structure is a frame for the corresponding part of the vehicle seat.

3. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 including an auxiliary support structure constituting a frame for the vehicle seat part.

4. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 wherein the energy-absorbing structure includes at least one energy-absorbing element integrally molded into at least one of the primary support structure and the auxiliary support structure.

5. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 wherein the energy-absorbing structure includes a plurality of energy-absorbing elements supporting the auxiliary support structure from the primary support structure in an energy-absorbing manner.

6. A vehicle seat according to claim 5 wherein the relative positions of the plurality of energy-absorbing elements can be changed with respect to each other.

7. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 wherein the energy absorbing structure includes at least one energy-absorbing element for which the force travel characteristic can be adjusted.

8. A vehicle seat according to claim 7 wherein the adjustable force-travel characteristic of the at least one energy-absorbing element can be set according to a characteristic of an occupant of the seat.

9. A vehicle seat according to claim 7 wherein the force-travel characteristic can be set as a function of one inclination angle of a backrest part of the vehicle seat.

10. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary support structure overlaps at least 60% of an area which is enclosed by the corresponding primary support structure.

11. A vehicle seat according to claim 10 wherein the auxiliary support structure overlaps at least 80% of an area which is enclosed by the corresponding primary support structure.

12. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 including:

an adjustable head restraint;

control means for adjusting at least one of the height and the inclination of the head restraint;

sensing means for sensing a seat occupant specific characteristic; and

actuating means for changing the position of at least one of an individual energy-absorbing element in the energy absorbing structure and the adjustable head restraint.

13. A vehicle seat according to claim 12 wherein a characteristic diagram is stored in the control means containing specific arrangements for at least one energy-absorbing element for selected head restraint settings.

14. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 wherein the cushion contains a cushion spring arrangement fastened to the second framework.

15. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary support structure has the shape of a shell body.

16. A vehicle seat according to claim 15 wherein the shell body comprises a cellular structure.

17. A vehicle according to claim 16 wherein the cellular structure comprises a polymer particle foam structure.

18. A vehicle seat according to claim 17 wherein the cellular structure comprises a rigid polypropylene or polyethylene foam structure with a density in the range from 50-90 grams per liter.

19. A vehicle seat according to claim 16 wherein the shell body comprises a cellular aluminum structure.

20. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 wherein the energy-absorbing structure comprises at least one latch member having latch teeth affixed to the auxiliary support structure and a mating latch member affixed to the corresponding primary support structure.

21. A vehicle seat according to claim 20 wherein the latch teeth and the mating latch member are matched to each other so that an increasing displacement of the auxiliary support structure relative to the primary support structure results in an force-travel characteristic.

22. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 wherein the cushion is formed around the primary support structure.

23. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 including a head restraint which is mounted on the primary support structure of the backrest part.

24. A vehicle seat comprising a seat part and a backrest part, each of the seat part and backrest part having a primary support structure and a cushion covering the primary support structure, the primary support structure of the backrest part being connected at a lower end to a rear end of the primary support structure of the seat part, at least one of the primary support structures having an associated auxiliary support structure spaced from it on a side facing a seated passenger, and at least one energy absorbing structure connecting the associated auxiliary support structure with the corresponding primary support structure, the energy-absorbing structure being plastically deformable by action of forces resulting from an impact to reduce the spacing between the primary support structure and the auxiliary support structure:

wherein the energy-absorbing structure includes a plurality of energy-absorbing elements supporting the auxiliary support structure from the primary support structure in an energy-absorbing manner; and

wherein the energy-absorbing elements have different force-travel characteristics.

25. A vehicle seat comprising a seat part and a backrest part, each of the seat part and backrest part having a primary support structure and a cushion covering the primary support structure, the primary support structure of the backrest part being connected at a lower end to a rear end of the primary support structure of the seat part, at least one of the primary support structures having an associated auxiliary support structure spaced from it on a side facing a seated passenger, and at least one energy absorbing structure connecting the associated auxiliary support structure with the corresponding primary support structure, the energy-absorbing structure being plastically deformable by action of forces resulting from an impact to reduce the spacing between the primary support structure and the auxiliary support structure:

including an adjustable head restraint mounted at an upper region of the primary support structure of the backrest part and displacing means for displacing the lower end of the head restraint in response to energy-absorbing displacement of an auxiliary support structure of the backrest part.

26. A vehicle seat according to claim 25 wherein the displacing means includes an actuating linkage responsive to motion of the auxiliary support portion of the backrest part toward the corresponding primary support portion to move the head restraint in the direction of a seat occupant.

27. A vehicle seat according to claim 26 wherein the actuating linkage comprises a lever element which is mounted on the primary support structure and is associated at one end to the corresponding auxiliary support structure and at the other end to the head restraint.