Seat and occupant restraint system

• US 6,322,140 B1
• Filed: 07/26/1999
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Hurley, William J., Jessup, Chris P., Williams, Jeffry L., Templin, Harry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US09/361,069
• Time in Patent Office: 855 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. In one embodiment 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. In an alternate embodiment a displacement member including at least a flexible portion is connected at one end to a piston within a fluid cylinder and is connected at the other end to the linkage. An angle between 0 and 180 degrees is imparted to the flexible portion of the displacement member, allowing the cylinder to be oriented in alternate directions for space efficiency. Retraction of the cylinder rod tightens the three point buckle assembly and 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 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 and operable to restrain an occupant on said seat and,

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

a fluid cylinder;

a piston within said fluid cylinder; and

,

a displacement member having a first end, a second end and at least one flexible portion therebetween, wherein said first end is connected to said seat frame and seat, and

wherein said second end is connected to said piston, and;

said seat retracting means upon crash applying fluid pressure to said fluid cylinder moving said piston and said displacement member to move said seat frame and seat toward the vehicle floor.

2. The seat restraint system of claim 1 and further comprising a linkage pivotally mounted to said said seat frame and seat, wherein said belt means is connected to said seat frame and seat via said linkage, and said first end of said displacement member is connected to said seat frame and seat via said linkage.

3. The seat restraint system of claim 2 and further comprising a source of pressurized fluid connected to said fluid cylinder.

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

a seat frame and seat and having a mounting point;

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 and operable to restrain an occupant on said seat;

a fluid cylinder mountable adjacent said seat frame and seat and having a cylinder axis;

a piston oriented within said fluid cylinder;

a displacement member having a first end and a second end and at least one flexible portion therebetween, wherein said first end is connected to said mounting point on said seat frame and seat, wherein a tension axis is defined intersecting said mounting point and extending along at least a portion of said displacement member, and wherein said second end is coupled to said piston;

wherein said flexible portion of said displacement member is bent so that the intersection of said tension axis and said cylinder axis forms an angle between 0 and 180 degrees; and

,

wherein upon crash fluid pressure is applied to said fluid cylinder, moving said piston and said displacement member to move said seat frame and seat toward the vehicle floor.

5. The seat restraint system of claim 4 and further comprising a linkage pivotally mounted to said mounting point for said seat frame and seat wherein said belt means is connected to said mounting point via said linkage, and said first end of said displacement member is connected to said mounting point via said linkage.

6. The seat restraint system of claim 5 wherein said linkage tightens said belt means upon crash of the vehicle.

7. The seat restraint system of claim 6 wherein said linkage includes timing means to tighten said belt means prior to retraction of said seat frame and seat.

8. The seat restraint system of claim 5 wherein said displacement member is flexible along substantially its entire length.

9. The seat restraint system of claim 5 wherein said second end of said displacement member includes a rod portion with a head end and a tail end wherein said rod extends into said fluid cylinder and said tail end is attached to said piston and wherein said rod portion has a length such that said head end remains outside of said fluid cylinder after crash.

10. The seat restraint system of claim 5 wherein a horizontal axis is defined horizontal to the vehicle floor and wherein the intersection of said tension axis and said horizontal axis forms an angle between about 40 and about 70 degrees.

11. The seat restraint system of claim 5 wherein a horizontal axis is defined horizontal to the vehicle floor and wherein the intersection of said tension axis and said horizontal axis forms an angle of about 90 degrees.

12. The seat restraint system of claim 5 wherein said fluid cylinder is horizontally mounted adjacent said seat frame and seat.

13. The seat restraint system of claim 5 wherein said seat includes a seat back and said fluid cylinder is mounted substantially vertically, adjacent said seat back.

14. The seat restraint system of 5 further comprising a source of pressurized fluid connected to said fluid cylinder.

15. The seat restraint system of claim 14 wherein said source of pressurized fluid includes a pyrotechnic charge.

16. The seat restraint system of claim 15 and further compromising a crash sensor coupled to said source of pressurized fluid.

17. A seat restraint system adapted to mount to the floor of a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle suspension seat including a seat and a seat frame adapted to mount atop a floor and movable to and from the floor;

a suspension device connected to said seat frame;

a sensor for mounting to the vehicle to detect a crash;

a belt connected to said suspension seat to restrain an occupant thereon; and

,

a seat retractor connected to said suspension seat and operably connected to said sensor to move said suspension seat in its entirety toward said floor upon said sensor detecting a crash, wherein said seat retractor includes a displacement member having at least one flexible portion.

18. The seat restraint system of claim 17 further comprising an output connecter associated with said sensor and wherein said seat retractor is operably connected to said sensor via said output connector.

19. A seat restraint system adapted to mount to the floor of a vehicle comprising:

a seat adapted to mount atop a floor;

suspension structure connected to said seat operable to move said seat to and from the floor;

a sensor for mounting to the vehicle to detect the crash of the vehicle;

a belt for mounting to the vehicle to restrain an occupant upon the seat; and

,

a retractor mechanism including a displacement member having a flexible portion connected to said seat, to said belt and to said sensor, wherein said retractor mechanism once said sensor detects the crash of the vehicle will move said seat to the floor and tighten said belt.