Vehicle safety seat system

• US 6,520,541 B1
• Filed: 08/16/2000
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Penn State Research Foundation (Pennsylvania State University)
• Original Assignee: Penn State Research Foundation (Pennsylvania State University)
• Inventors: Cantor, Alan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US09/622,628
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 280/806, 280/801.1, 180/282, 297/452.27, 297/452.55
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4263 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/70 Upholstery springs ; Upholstery
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0013 Free fall
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/46 Reels with means to tension the belt in an emergency by forced winding upelectrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01 ; tensioners using reels only guiding the belt during normal use, e.g. splitted reels B60R22/195

Abstract

A vehicle safety seat system for protecting an occupant of the vehicle safety seat from injury. The safety seat system includes a ramped metal seat bottom having a ramp angle that prevents sub-marining of an occupant during a frontal impact. A first foam layer is disposed immediately over the ramped metal seat bottom and supported by the ramped metal seat bottom. The first foam layer has a rate sensitive compression characteristic. A second foam layer is disposed over the first foam layer. The second foam layer imparts comfort to the occupant during operation of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety seat system for protecting an occupant of said vehicle safety seat system from injury, comprising:

a ramped metal seat bottom having a ramp angle that prevents sub-marining of an occupant during a frontal collision;

a first foam layer disposed immediately over said ramped metal seat bottom and supported by said ramped metal seat bottom, said first foam layer having a rate sensitive compression characteristic; and

a second foam layer disposed over said first foam layer, said second foam layer having a characteristic that imparts comfort to the occupant during operation of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle safety seat system according to claim 1, wherein said rate sensitive compression characteristic comprises a compressive response to a slow application of force and a rigid response to a rapid application of force.

3. The vehicle safety seat system according to claim 1, further comprising an occupant restraint having a pretensioner device.

4. The vehicle safety seat system according to claim 3, including a vehicle off-ground sensor, wherein said pretensioner device is activated in accordance with said vehicle off-ground sensor.

5. The vehicle safety seat system according to claim 4, wherein said vehicle off-ground sensor comprises a rolling wheel sensor.

6. The vehicle safety seat system according to claim 5, wherein said vehicle off ground sensor comprises a suspension position sensor.