Extricable seat assembly

• US 6,550,858 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2000
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Grohs, Theodore M., Hobbes, Robert M., Cichocki, Walter T., Niester, Robert J., Winton, Charles D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US09/667,494
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.29, 297/452.33, 297/452.28, 297/452.23, 297/452.24, 297/216.1, 297/216.12, 297/216.13, 297/216.14, 297/216.15, 297/440.1, 297/440.22, 297/440.2, 294/28
• US Class Current: 297/216.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4256 the shape of the seat being specially adapted for a particular purpose or for particular vehicles

Abstract

An extricable seat assembly attachable to a cockpit of a vehicle is configured to allow a driver to be supported in an outstretched position and to allow removal of portions of the seat assembly. The seat assembly generally includes a bottom portion to support the lower torso of the driver, a back portion to support the spinal column of the driver, a left portion to support the left paraspinal area of the driver, and a right portion to support the right paraspinal area of the driver. The bottom portion has a hingedly connectable upper edge. The back portion has a lower edge hingedly and detachably connected to the upper edge of the bottom portion. The back portion further has hingedly connectable left and right edges.

Claims

1. An extricable seat assembly attachable to a cockpit of a vehicle for a driver of the vehicle, the seat assembly comprising:

a bottom portion to support the lower torso and legs of the driver, the bottom portion having a hingedly connectable upper edge;

a back portion to support the spinal column of the driver, the back portion having a lower edge hingedly and detachably connected to the upper edge of the bottom portion, the back portion having hingedly connectable left and right edges;

a left portion to support the left paraspinal area of the driver, the left portion having a lower edge hingedly and detachably connected to the upper edge of the bottom portion and a right edge hingedly and detachably connected to the left edge of the back portion; and

a right portion to support the right paraspinal area of the driver, the right portion having a lower edge hingedly and detachably connected to the upper edge of the bottom portion and a left edge hingedly and detachably connected to the right edge of the back portion,

thereby, in an event of an impact, allowing an outstretched position of the driver such that the driver rests substantially coplanar with a support for post-extrication handling of the driver and allowing removal of portions of the seat assembly.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the portions of the seat assembly has an aperture through which a safety belt is received to secure the driver in the seat assembly.

3. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the back portion includes a spinal recess centrally formed vertically thereon to complement and relieve the spinal column of the driver, the spinal recess having an energy absorbing material disposed therein.

4. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the bottom portion includes a hip recess formed thereon such that it would be proximate a hip region of the driver to complement and relieve the hips of the driver, the hip recess having an energy absorbing material disposed therein.

5. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the left and right portions include shoulder recesses formed thereon such that it would be proximate a shoulder region to complement and relieve the shoulder blades of the driver, each of the shoulder recesses having an energy absorbing material disposed therein.

6. The seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a head guard configured to attach about the periphery of the rear of the cockpit for support to the head of the driver, the head guard including:

a center part for support to the rear of the head, the center part having a lower edge connectable to the cockpit and having hingedly connectable left and right edges;

a left part for support to the left side of the head, the left part having a lower edge connectable to the cockpit and having a right edge hingedly and detachably connected to the left edge of the center part; and

a right part for support to the right side of the head, the right part having a lower edge connectable to the cockpit and having a left edge hingedly and detachably connected to the right edge of the center part.

7. The seat assembly of claim 6 wherein each of the hingedly connectable left and right edges of the center part has a hinge disposed thereon.

8. The seat assembly of claim 6 wherein the right edge of the left part includes a hinge disposed thereon.

9. The seat assembly of claim 6 wherein the left edge of the right part includes a hinge disposed thereon.

10. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper edge of the bottom portion includes a hinge.

11. The seat assembly of claim 10 wherein each of the edges of the back portion includes a hinge.

12. The seat assembly of claim 11 wherein each of the edges of the left portion includes a hinge and each of the edges of the right portion includes a hinge.

13. The seat assembly of claim 12 further comprising:

a first cord disposed through the hinges of the lower edges of the back, left and right portions and the upper edge of the bottom portion, the first cord hingedly and detachably connecting the lower edge of the back portion, the lower edge of the left portion, and the lower edge of the right portion to the upper edge of the bottom portion;

a second cord disposed through the hinges of the right edge of the left portion and the left edge of the back portion, the second cord hingedly and detachably connecting the right edge of the left portion to the left edge of the back portion; and

a third cord disposed through the hinges of the left edge of the right portion and the right edge of the back portion, the third cord hingedly and detachably connecting the left edge of the right portion to the right edge of the back portion.

14. A multi-layered extricable seat assembly attachable to a cockpit of a vehicle and custom fit for a driver of the vehicle, the seat assembly comprising:

a bottom portion, a back portion, a left portion, and a right portion wherein the portions have

a common outer layer having a first surface and a second surface attachable to the cockpit of the vehicle, the common outer layer formed to be received in the cockpit;

a custom-formed integral inner layer formed to complement the shape of the body of the driver, the inner layer being press-fit attached only at its periphery to the first surface of the outer layer, defining a void between the inner and outer layers; and

an impact energy material disposed in the void between the inner and outer layers, the impact energy material adhering to the inner and outer layers to support the driver when in the seat assembly.

15. The seat assembly of claim 14 wherein the outer layer includes a carbon fiber sheet.

16. The seat assembly of claim 14 wherein the inner layer includes a composite of carbon fibers and an aramid fiber material.

17. The seat assembly of claim 14 wherein the impact energy material includes pourable polyurethane foam.

18. A multi-layered extricable seat assembly attachable to a cockpit of a racing vehicle for a driver of the vehicle, the seat assembly comprising:

a bottom portion to support the lower torso and legs of the driver, the bottom portion having a hingedly connectable upper edge;

a back portion to support the spinal column of the driver, the back portion having a lower edge hingedly and detachably connected to the upper edge of the bottom portion, the back portion having hingedly connectable left and right edges;

a left portion to support the left paraspinal area of the driver, the left portion having a lower edge hingedly and detachably connected to the upper edge of the bottom portion and a right edge hingedly and detachably connected to the left edge of the back portion; and

a right portion to support the right paraspinal area of the driver, the right portion having a lower edge hingedly and detachably connected to the upper edge of the bottom portion and a left edge hingedly and detachably connected to the right edge of the back portion;

wherein each portion includes;

a common outer layer attachable to the cockpit of the racing vehicle, the common outer layer formed to be received in the cockpit of the racing vehicle;

a custom-formed integral inner layer formed to complement the shape of the body of the driver, the inner layer being press-fit attached only at its periphery to the outer layer defining a void between the inner and outer layers; and

a liner disposed in the void between the inner and outer layers to support the driver in the seat assembly.

19. The seat assembly of claim 18 wherein the upper edge of the bottom portion includes a hinge.

20. The seat assembly of claim 19 wherein each of the edges of the back portion includes a hinge.

21. The seat assembly of claim 20 wherein each of the edges of the left portion includes a hinge and each of the edges of the right portion includes a hinge.

22. The seat assembly of claim 21 further comprising:

a first cord disposed through each of the hinges of the lower edges of the back, left, and right portions and disposed through the hinge of the upper edge of the bottom portion, the first cord hingedly and detachably connecting the lower edge of the back portion, the lower edge of the left portion, and the lower edge of the right portion to the upper edge of the bottom portion;

a second cord disposed through the hinges of the right edge of the left portion and the left edge of the back portion, the second cord hingedly and detachably connecting the right edge of the left portion to the left edge of the back portion; and

a third cord disposed through the hinges of the left edge of the right portion and the right edge of the back portion, the third cord hingedly and detachably connecting the left edge of the right portion to the right edge of the back portion.

23. The seat assembly of claim 18 further comprising a head guard configured to attach about the periphery of the rear of the cockpit for support to the head of the driver, the head guard including:

a center part for support to the rear of the head, the center part having a lower edge connectable to the cockpit and having hingedly connectable left and right edges;

a left part for support to the left side of the head, the left part having a lower edge connectable to the cockpit and having a right edge hingedly and detachably connected to the left edge of the center part; and

a right part for support to the right side of the head, the right part having a lower edge connectable to the cockpit and having a left edge hingedly and detachably connected to the right edge of the center part.

24. The seat assembly of claim 18 wherein each of the portions of the seat assembly has a slot formed thereon through which a safety belt is received to secure the driver in the seat assembly.

25. The seat assembly of claim 18 wherein the back portion includes a spinal recess centrally formed vertically thereon to complement and relieve the spinal column of the driver.

26. The seat assembly of claim 18 wherein the bottom portion includes a hip recess formed thereon such that it would be proximate a hip region of the driver to complement and relieve the hips of the driver.

27. The seat assembly of claim 18 wherein each of the left and right portions include shoulder recesses formed thereon proximate a shoulder region of the driver to complement and relieve the shoulder blades of the driver.

28. The seat assembly of claim 18 wherein the back portion further includes an upper portion having a receiving slot through which a slidable head stabilizing board is inserted for further head support to the driver, the slidable head stabilizing board being adjustable in accordance with the upper torso length of the driver.

29. A method of extricating a driver on an extricable seat assembly of a cockpit of a vehicle after an impact event, the method comprising:

providing the seat assembly on which the driver is seated, the seat assembly including a bottom portion with a connectable upper edge, a back portion connected to the upper edge of the bottom portion and having connectable left and right edges, a left portion connected to the upper edge of the bottom portion and connected to the left edge of the back portion, and a right portion connected to the upper edge of the bottom portion and connected to the right edge of the back portion;

lifting the driver and the seat assembly after the impact event;

placing the driver and the seat assembly on a support;

detaching the bottom portion from the back portion, left portion, and right portion to lower the legs of the driver in an outstretched position; and

detaching the left and right portions from the back portion to outstretch the upper torso of the driver, thereby supporting the driver with the back portion.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the back portion further includes an upper edge having a receiving slot through which a slidable head stabilizing board is disposed to provide support to the head of the driver during extrication of the driver and the seat assembly.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the seat assembly further includes a head guard configured to attach about the periphery of the rear of the cockpit for support to the head of the driver.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

detaching the head guard assembly from the periphery of the rear of the cockpit to accommodate lifting the driver and the seat assembly;

inserting a head stabilizing board into the receiving slot of the back portion to provide support to the head of the driver;

securing the driver in the seat assembly before the step of lifting; and

transporting the driver after detaching the left and right portions from the back portion.

33. A multi-layered extricable seat assembly attachable to a cockpit of a vehicle and custom fit for a driver of the vehicle, the seat assembly comprising:

a common outer layer having a first surface and a second surface attachable to the cockpit of the vehicle, the common outer layer formed to be received in the cockpit;

a custom-formed integral inner layer formed to complement the shape of the body of the driver, the inner layer being press-fit attached only at its periphery to the first surface of the outer layer, defining a void between the inner and outer layers; and

an impact energy material disposed in the void between the inner and outer layers, the impact energy material adhering to the inner and outer layers to support the driver when in the seat assembly

wherein the outer layer includes a carbon fiber sheet.

34. The seat assembly of claim 33 wherein the inner layer includes a composite of carbon fibers and an aramid fiber material.