Vehicular seats including occupant protection apparatus

• US 6,331,014 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2000
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/613,924
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 297/216.12, 297/216.13, 297/410, 297/408
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/838 Tiltable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/865 providing a fore-and-aft movement with respect to the occupant's head
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2074 in head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats

Abstract

A seat for a vehicle for protecting an occupant of the seat in a crash including a headrest portion, an expandable bladder arranged at least partially in the headrest portion and arranged to conform to the shape of a neck and head of the occupant upon expansion, and an igniter for causing expansion of the bladder upon receiving a signal that protection for the occupant is desired. A fluid-containing chamber is coupled to the igniter and in flow communication with the bladder whereby the igniter causes fluid in the chamber to expand and flow into the bladder to expand the bladder. A control valve associated with the bladder enables the release of fluid from the bladder. A crash sensor system determines that a crash requiring protection for the occupant, e.g.,. a rear impact, is desired and generates and directs the signal to the igniter. Instead of the expandable bladder and igniter, the seat may include an airbag arranged at least partially in the headrest portion whereby the headrest portion is pivotable with respect to a backrest portion of the seat toward the occupant.

Claims

1. A seat for a vehicle for protecting an occupant of the seat in a crash, comprising:

a headrest portion having a cover defining an interior of said headrest portion,

an expandable bladder arranged at least partially in said interior of said cover of said headrest portion, said bladder being arranged to expand within said cover and cause said cover to conform to the shape of a part of the occupant adjacent said cover upon expansion, and

an igniter for causing expansion of said bladder upon receiving a signal that protection for the occupant is desired.

2. The seat of claim 1, further comprising a backrest portion having an outer, boundary-defining member, said bladder being arranged in least partially in said outer, boundary-defining member of said backrest portion.

3. The seat of claim 1, further comprising a fluid-containing chamber coupled to said igniter and in flow communication with said bladder, said igniter causing fluid in said chamber to expand and flow into said bladder to expand said bladder.

4. The seat of claim 1, further comprising a control valve associated with said bladder for enabling the release of fluid from said bladder.

5. A vehicle including a system for protecting an occupant of the seat in a crash, comprising

a seat having a headrest portion having a cover defining an interior of said headrest portion,

an expandable bladder arranged at least partially in said interior of said cover of said headrest portion, said bladder being arranged to expand within said cover and cause said cover to conform to the shape of a part of the occupant adjacent said cover upon expansion, and

an igniter for causing expansion of said bladder upon receiving a signal that protection for the occupant is desired.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, further comprising a crash sensor system for determining that a crash requiring protection for the occupant is desired, said crash sensor generating a signal and directing the signal to said igniter.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein said crash sensor system is arranged to detect a rear impact.

8. The vehicle of claim 6, further comprising a backrest portion having an outer, boundary-defining member, said bladder being arranged in least partially in said outer, boundary-defining member of said backrest portion.

9. The vehicle of claim 6, further comprising a fluid-containing chamber coupled to said igniter and in flow communication with said bladder, said igniter causing fluid in said chamber to expand and flow into said bladder to expand said bladder.

10. The vehicle of claim 6, further comprising a control valve associated with said bladder for enabling the release of fluid from said bladder.

11. A seat for a vehicle for protecting an occupant of the seat in a crash, comprising

a backrest including a backrest portion and a headrest portion, and

an airbag arranged at least partially in an interior of said headrest portion,

said headrest portion being pivotable with respect to said backrest portion toward the occupant.

12. The seat of claim 11, further comprising pivot means for enabling pivotal movement of said headrest portion relative to said backrest portion.

13. The seat of claim 11, wherein said pivot means comprise a solenoid arranged to move an arm about a pivot axis, said arm being coupled to said headrest portion.

14. A vehicle including a system for protecting an occupant of the seat in a crash, comprising

a seat having a backrest including a backrest portion and a headrest portion, and

an airbag arranged at least partially in an interior of said headrest portion,

said headrest portion being pivotable with respect to said backrest portion toward the occupant.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a crash sensor system for determining that a crash requiring protection for the occupant is desired, said headrest portion being pivoted into contact with the occupant upon a determination by said crash sensor system that a crash requiring protection for the occupant is desired.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein said crash sensor system is arranged to detect a rear impact.

17. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising pivot means for enabling pivotal movement of said headrest portion relative to said backrest portion.

18. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein said pivot means comprise a solenoid arranged to move an arm about a pivot axis, said arm being coupled to said headrest portion.

19. A vehicle including a system for protecting an occupant of the seat in a crash, comprising:

a seat having a backrest including a backrest portion and a headrest portion, said headrest portion being pivotable with respect to said backrest portion toward the occupant;

an airbag arranged at least partially in said headrest portion; and

a crash sensor system for determining that protection for the occupant is desired for a crash involving the vehicle, said headrest portion being pivoted into contact with the occupant upon a determination by said crash sensor system that protection for the occupant is desired for a crash.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein said crash sensor system is arranged to detect a rear impact.

21. The vehicle of claim 19, further comprising pivot means for enabling pivotal movement of said headrest portion relative to said backrest portion.

22. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein said airbag is arranged in an interior of said headrest portion of said backrest.

23. A seat for a vehicle for protecting an occupant of the seat in a crash, comprising:

a backrest including a backrest portion and a headrest portion;

an expandable bladder having a normal state and an expanded state in which said bladder is situated entirely within said backrest including the headrest portion; and

means for expanding said bladder into said expanded state upon receiving a signal that protection for the occupant is desired.

24. The seat of claim 23, wherein said bladder is situated partially in said backrest portion and partially in said headrest portion.

25. The seat of claim 23, wherein said means for expanding said bladder comprise an igniter.

26. The seat of claim 25, further comprising a fluid-containing chamber coupled to said igniter and in flow communication with said bladder, said igniter causing fluid in said chamber to expand and flow into said bladder to expand said bladder.

27. A vehicle including a system for protecting an occupant of the seat in a crash, comprising

a seat having a backrest including a backrest portion and a headrest portion;

an expandable bladder having a normal state and an expanded state in which said bladder is situated entirely within said backrest including the headrest portion; and

means for expanding said bladder into said expanded state upon receiving a signal that protection for the occupant is desired.

28. The vehicle of claim 27, further comprising a crash sensor system for determining that a crash requiring protection for the occupant is desired, said crash sensor generating a signal and directing the signal to said means for expanding said bladder.

29. The vehicle of claim 28, wherein said crash sensor system is arranged to detect a rear impact.

30. The vehicle of claim 27, wherein said bladder is situated partially in said backrest portion and partially in said headrest portion.

31. The vehicle of claim 27, wherein said means for expanding said bladder comprise an igniter.

32. The vehicle of claim 31, further comprising a fluid-containing chamber coupled to said igniter and in flow communication with said bladder, said igniter causing fluid in said chamber to expand and flow into said bladder to expand said bladder.