Vehicle seat assembly

• US 6,386,631 B1
• Filed: 06/15/1999
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NHK Spring Company Limited
• Original Assignee: NHK Spring Company Limited
• Inventors: Ohi, Tomoharu, Takakura, Minoru, Yamaguchi, Hiroyoshi, Masuda, Kou
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US09/334,116
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.1, 297/216.18, 297/284.11, 297/476, 297/478
• US Class Current: 297/216.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42763 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering

Abstract

Provided is a vehicle seat assembly which can prevent a submarine phenomenon in a reliable manner, and which is simple in structure so as to allow a high level of flexibility in layout. A slip preventing member for preventing the vehicle occupant from slipping forward under the seat belt in case of an impact is supported by a fixed part of a seat so as to be pivotable between a retracted position and a raised position, and an actuator is interposed between a fixed part of said seat and a part of said slip preventing member. To retain the slip preventing member at its raised position even after the power of the power unit is all used up, the assembly further includes a lock mechanism for retaining said slip preventing member at said raised position.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

a slip preventing member supported by a seat so as to be pivotable between a retracted position and a raised position;

an actuator interposed between said seat and said slip preventing member, and adapted to move said slip preventing member toward said raised position;

a lock mechanism for retaining said slip preventing member at said raised position;

wherein said slip preventing member comprises a pair of lever members supported on either side of said seat so as to be pivotable around a pair of laterally extending pivot shafts, and a rod member extending along a front edge of said seat and attached across free ends of said lever members;

wherein at least one of said lever members consists of a bell crank having a first end attached to said rod member, and a second end adapted to be actuated by said actuator; and

wherein said actuator comprises a piston/cylinder assembly connected between said second end and said seat, said piston/cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder and a gas generator received in said cylinder.

2. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said lock mechanism comprises a one-way lock mechanism provided around at least one of said pair of pivot shafts.

3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said piston/cylinder assembly further comprises a piston rod and said lock mechanism comprises a one-way lock mechanism incorporated between said piston rod and said cylinder.

4. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 3, wherein said lock mechanism is provided inside said cylinder.

5. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 3, wherein said lock mechanism is provided outside said cylinder.

6. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, further comprising a seat belt pretensioner device which is adapted to selectively move a seat belt buckle in a direction to apply a tension to a seat belt and powered by said actuator.

7. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said pretensioner device comprises a bell crank member which is pivotally supported by a fixed part of said seat so as to be pivotable around a pivot shaft extending laterally with respect to said seat, said bell crank member having a first end attached to said buckle, and a second end attached to an end of said actuator.

15. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, further comprising a seat belt pretensioner device which is adapted to selectively move a seat belt buckle in a direction to apply a tension to a seat belt and powered by said actuator.

16. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 15, wherein said pretensioner comprises a bell crank member which is pivotally supported by said seat so as to be pivotable around a pivot shaft extending laterally with respect to said seat, said bell crank member having a first end attached to said buckle, and a second end attached to an end of said actuator.

8. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

a slip preventing member supported by a seat so as to be pivotable between a retracted position and a raised position;

an actuator interposed between said seat and said slip preventing member, and adapted to move said slip preventing member toward said raised position, said actuator comprising a piston rod and a cylinder;

a lock mechanism for retaining said slip preventing member at said raised position; and

wherein said lock mechanism comprises a one-way lock mechanism incorporated between said piston rod and said cylinder.

9. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8, wherein said lock mechanism is provided inside said cylinder.

10. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8, wherein said lock mechanism is provided outside said cylinder.

11. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8, wherein said slip preventing member comprises a lever member supported by said seat so as to be pivotable around a laterally extending pivot shaft, and a rod member extending along a front edge of said seat and attached to a free end of said lever member.

12. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8, wherein said slip preventing member comprises a pair of lever members supported on either side of said seat so as to be pivotable around a pair of laterally extending pivot shafts, and a rod member extending along a front edge of said seat and attached across free ends of said leaver members.

13. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 12, Wherein at least one of said lever members consists of a bell crank having a first end attached to said rod member, and a second end adapted to be actuated by said actuator.

14. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 13, wherein said actuator is connected between said second end and said seat, said actuator further comprising a gas generator received in said cylinder.

17. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

a slip preventing member supported by a seat so as to be pivotable between a retracted position and a raised position;

an actuator interposed between said seat and said slip preventing member, and adapted to move said slip preventing member toward said raised position;

a lock mechanism for retaining said slip preventing member at said raised position; and

a seat belt pretension device which is adapted to selectively move a seat belt buckle in a direction to apply a tension to a seat belt;

wherein said slip preventing member comprises a lever member supported by said seat so as to be pivotable around a laterally extending pivot shaft, and a rod member extending along a front edge of said seat and attached to a free end of said lever member.

21. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 17, wherein said lock mechanism comprises a one-way lock mechanism provided around said another pivot shaft.

18. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

a slip preventing member supported by a seat so as to be pivotable between a retracted position and a raised position;

an actuator interposed between said seat and said slip preventing member, and adapted to move said slip preventing member toward said raised position;

a lock mechanism for retaining said slip preventing member at said raised position; and

a seat belt pretension device which is adapted to selectively move a seat belt buckle in a direction to apply a tension to a seat belt;

wherein said slip preventing member comprises a pair of lever members supported on either side of said seat so as to be pivotable around a pair of laterally extending pivot shafts, and a rod member extending along a front edge of said seat and attached across free ends of said lever members.

19. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 18, wherein at least one of said lever members consists of a bell crank having a first end attached to said rod member, and a second end adapted to be actuated by said actuator.

20. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 19, wherein said actuator comprises a piston/cylinder assembly connected between said second end and said seat, said piston/cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder and a gas generator received in said cylinder.

22. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

a slip preventing member supported by a seat so as to be pivotable between a retracted position and a raised position;

an actuator interposed between said seat and said slip preventing member, and adapted to move said slip preventing member toward said raised position;

a lock mechanism for retaining said slip preventing member at said raised position; and

a seat belt pretension device which is adapted to selectively move a seat belt buckle in a direction to apply a tension to a seat belt;

wherein said actuator comprises a piston rod and a cylinder and said lock mechanism comprises a one-way lock mechanism incorporated between said piston rod and said cylinder.

23. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 22, wherein said lock mechanism is provided inside said cylinder.

24. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 22, wherein said lock mechanism is provided outside said cylinder.

25. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising

a slip preventing member supported by a seat so as to be pivotable between a retracted position and a raised position;

an actuator interposed between said seat and said slip preventing member, and adapted to move said slip preventing member toward said raised position,

a lock mechanism for retaining said slip preventing member at said raised position; and

said actuator comprising a piston/cylinder assembly connected between said seat and said slip preventing member, said piston/cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder and a gas generator received in said cylinder.

26. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 25 wherein said slip preventing member comprises a lever member supported by said seat so as to be pivotable around a laterally extending pivot shaft, and a rod member extending along a front edge of said seat and attached to a free end of said lever member.

27. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 25, wherein said slip preventing member comprises a pair of lever members supported on either side of said seat so as to be pivotable around a pair of laterally extending pivot shafts, and a rod member extending along a front edge of said seat and attached across free ends of said lever members.

28. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 29, wherein at least one of said lever members consists of a bell crank having a first end attached to said rod member, and a second end adapted to be actuated by said actuator.

29. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 27, wherein said lock mechanism comprises a one-way lock mechanism provided around at least one of said pair of pivot shafts.

30. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 25, wherein said piston/cylinder assembly further comprises a piston rod and said lock mechanism comprises a one-way lock mechanism incorporated between said piston rod and said cylinder.

31. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 30, wherein said lock mechanism is provided inside said cylinder.

32. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 30, wherein said lock mechanism is provided outside said cylinder.

33. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 32, further comprising a seat belt pretensioner device which is adapted to selectively move a seat belt buckle in a direction to apply a tension to a seat belt and powered by said actuator.

34. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 33, wherein said pretensioner comprises a bell crank member which is pivotally supported by said seat so as to be pivotable around a pivot shaft extending laterally with respect said seat, said bell crank member having a first end attached to said buckle, and a second end attached to an end of said actuator.

35. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

a seat frame;

a shaft mounted on said seat frame;

a first lever pivotably mounted on said shaft;

an actuator coupled between an end of said first lever and said seat frame, said actuator comprising;

a cylinder;

a piston located in said cylinder;

a piston rod fixedly attached to said piston; and

a gas generator located in said cylinder opposite of said piston; and

a rod coupled to another end of said first lever, wherein said rod has a C-shaped middle section.

36. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

a seat frame;

a shaft mounted on said seat frame;

a first lever pivotably mounted on said shaft;

an actuator coupled between an end of said first lever and said seat frame, said actuator comprising;

a cylinder;

a piston located in said cylinder;

a piston rod fixedly attached to said piston; and

a gas generator located in said cylinder opposite of said piston; and

a locking mechanism interposed between said piston rod and said cylinder, wherein said locking mechanism comprises;

a casing mounted on said cylinder;

a chamber defined between an inner surface of said casing and an outer surface of said piston rod, wherein at least a portion of said inner surface of said casing being inclined relative to said outer surface of said piston rod;

an engagement piece located in said chamber, said engagement piece being interposed between said casing and said piston rod; and

a spring in said casing, said spring being interposed between said casing and said engagement piece.

37. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 36, wherein said engagement piece is a ball.

38. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 36, wherein said engagement piece has an outer surface being parallel to said portion of inclined inner surface of said casing.

39. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

a slip preventing member supported by a seat so as to be pivotable between a retracted position and a raised position;

an actuator interposed between said seat and said slip preventing member, and adapted to move said slip preventing member toward said raised position, wherein said actuator comprises;

a cylinder;

a piston located in said cylinder;

a piston rod fixedly attached to said piston;

a gas generator located in said cylinder opposite of said piston; and

a locking mechanism interposed between said piston rod and said cylinder, said lock mechanism for retaining said slip preventing member at said raised position; and

a seat belt pretension device which is adapted to move a seat belt buckle in a direction away from an occupant seated on said seat.

40. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

a slip preventing member supported by a seat so as to be pivotable between a retracted position and a raised position;

an actuator interposed between said seat and said slip preventing member, and adapted to move said slip preventing member toward said raised position;

a lock mechanism for retaining said slip preventing member at said raised position;

a seat belt pretension device which is adapted to move a seat belt buckle in a direction away from an occupant seated on said seat; and

a shaft mounted on said seat, wherein the slip preventing member is pivotably mounted on said shaft, wherein said locking mechanism is mounted on said shaft.