Vehicle seat, especially a motor vehicle seat

• US 6,752,455 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Company KG (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Teufel, Ingo, Mühlberger, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US10/230,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20030042771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.16, 297/216.17, 297/216.19, 297/216.2, 297/344.15, 248/652, 248/664
• US Class Current: 297/216.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1615 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1685 characterised by a lock
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42736 of the whole seat

Abstract

In a vehicle seat, especially a motor vehicle seat, having a backrest (29; 129) and having a seat part (3; 103) which has an articulated structure (7; 107) which, in the event of a rear crash, experiences a change in geometry, the change in geometry of the articulated structure (7; 107) at least partly compensates for the rearward displacement of the backrest (29; 129).

Claims

1. A vehicle seat for being mounted in a vehicle that has a front and a rear, and for operating advantageously in the event of a rear crash of the vehicle, the vehicle seat comprising:

a seat part including a front and a rear, wherein the front of the seat part is for being oriented toward the front of the vehicle and the rear of the seat part is for being oriented toward the rear of the vehicle; and

a backrest mounted for extending at least generally upward from proximate the rear of the seat part,

wherein the seat part includes an articulated structure mounted so that the articulated structure experiences a change in geometry in response to the rear crash exceeding a predetermined magnitude, and said change in geometry at least partially compensates for any rearward displacement of the backrest resulting from the rear crash,

wherein a rear coupling region of the articulated structure is mounted so that;

the rear coupling region is in a first configuration prior to said change in geometry,

the rear coupling region moves into a second configuration in response to the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude, as part of said change in geometry, and

the second configuration is more upright than the first configuration, and wherein;

the articulated structure includes a front hinge in a lower region of the articulated structure,

the rear coupling region of the articulated structure is mounted at a rear bearing point in the lower region of the articulated structure, and

the rear bearing point comprises at least one deformable element which is operative so that the deformable element deforms in response to the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude so that said change in geometry comprises the rear bearing point being displaced rearward relative to the front hinge so that a distance between the front hinge and the rear bearing point is enlarged in response to the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude.

2. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the rear bearing point has, in a bearing region, a bearing pin that is supported by the deformable element.

3. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the rear coupling region of the articulated structure comprises a rear pivot arm mounted so that:

the rear pivot arm is in a rearwardly inclined configuration prior to said change in geometry, with the rearwardly inclined configuration comprising a lower end of the rear pivot arm being positioned forwardly of an upper end of the rear pivot arm, and

the rear pivot arm moves into an upright configuration during said change in geometry, whereby the rear pivot arm moves into the upright configuration in response to the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude.

4. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the articulated structure includes a seat frame having a front and a rear, the rear coupling region is mounted to the rear of the seat frame, and said change in geometry of the articulated structure lowers the front of the seat frame and raises the rear of the seat frame.

5. A vehicle seat according to claim 3, wherein the articulated structure includes a seat frame having a front and a rear, the rear pivot arm is mounted to the rear of the seat frame, and said change in geometry of the articulated structure lowers the front of the seat frame and raises the rear of the seat frame.

6. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said change in geometry is a first change in geometry of the articulated structure, the vehicle seat further includes a drive mounted to the articulated structure for causing a second change in geometry of the articulated structure, the second change in geometry is different from the first change in geometry, and the second change in geometry adjusts a height of an upper portion of the articulated structure, whereby the articulated structure functions as a height adjuster during the second change in geometry.

7. A vehicle seat according to claim 3, wherein said change in geometry is a first change in geometry of the articulated structure, the vehicle seat further includes a drive mounted to the articulated structure for causing a second change in geometry of the articulated structure, the second change in geometry is different from the first change in geometry, and the second change in geometry adjusts a height of an upper portion of the articulated structure, whereby the articulated structure functions as a height adjuster during the second change in geometry.

8. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein:

said change in geometry is a first change in geometry of the articulated structure,

the articulated structure is also operative for experiencing a second change in geometry,

the second change in geometry is different from the first change in geometry,

the second change in geometry adjusts a height of an upper portion of the articulated structure, whereby the articulated structure functions as a height adjuster, and

the upper portion of the articulated structure is positioned higher than the front hinge and the rear bearing point of the articulated structure, such that the distance between the front hinge and the rear bearing point corresponds to a base of the articulated structure.

9. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein:

the articulated structure is in the form of a four-bar linkage that includes the front hinge, the rear coupling region, and the rear bearing point,

said change in geometry is a first change in geometry of the four-bar linkage,

the vehicle seat further includes a drive for causing a second change in geometry of the four-bar linkage,

the second change in geometry adjusts a height of an upper portion of the four-bar linkage, and

the rear bearing point is operative so that the distance between the front hinge and the rear bearing point remains constant during second change in geometry,

whereby the second change in geometry is different from the first change in geometry.

10. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said change in geometry is a first change in geometry, and the vehicle seat further comprises

a drive mounted to the articulated structure for causing a second change in geometry of the articulated structure, wherein the second change in geometry is different from the first change in geometry, and the second change in geometry adjusts a height of an upper portion of the articulated structure, whereby the articulated structure functions as a height adjuster during the second change in geometry.

11. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the articulated structure includes a seat frame having a front and a rear, and the rear coupling region is mounted to the rear of the seat frame in a manner so that the rear of the seat frame and the backrest are raised as a result of the rear bearing point being displaced rearward relative to the front hinge in response to the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude.

12. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein:

the rear coupling region of the articulated structure comprises a rear pivot arm;

the rear bearing point further comprises a bearing pin which carries the rear pivot arm in the rear coupling region;

said change in geometry comprises the bearing pin being displaced rearward relative to the front hinge so that a distance between the front hinge and the bearing pin is enlarged in response to the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude; and

the deformable element is positioned rearwardly of the bearing pin prior to said change in geometry which results from the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude.

13. A vehicle seat for being mounted in a vehicle that has a front and a rear, and for operating advantageously in the event of a rear crash of the vehicle, the vehicle seat comprising:

a seat part including;

a seat frame including a front and a rear, wherein the front of the seat frame is for being oriented toward the front of the vehicle and the rear of the seat frame is for being oriented toward the rear of the vehicle,

a height adjuster for adjusting a height of the seat frame, the height adjuster including;

a front pivot arm having a pivotably mounted lower end and an upper end which is pivotably mounted to the front of the seat frame, and

a rear pivot arm having a pivotably mounted lower end and an upper end which is pivotably mounted to the rear of the seat frame, and

a drive mounted so that when the drive is operated the drive causes the front and rear pivot arms to pivot relative to the seat frame and thereby adjust the height of the seat frame; and

a backrest mounted for extending at least generally upward from proximate the rear of the seat frame,

wherein the height adjuster is operative so that the height adjuster experiences a change in geometry in response to the rear crash exceeding a predetermined magnitude, and the change in geometry compensates for any rearward displacement of the backrest resulting from the rear crash, with said change in geometry causing at least the rear of the seat frame to pivot upwardly, and

wherein;

the lower end of the rear pivot arm pivots at a rear bearing point, and

the rear bearing point comprises at least one deformable element which is operative so that the deformable element deforms in response to the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude so that said change in geometry comprises the rear bearing point being displaced rearward relative to the front pivot arm so that a distance between the front hinge and the rear bearing point is enlarged in response to the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude.

14. A vehicle seat according to claim 13, wherein the mounting of the front and rear pivot arms is such that said change in geometry causes an upper portion of the backrest to pivot upwardly and forwardly.

15. A vehicle seat according to claim 13, wherein the drive of the height adjuster includes a motor operative for providing motorized activation of the height adjuster.

16. A vehicle seat according to claim 13, wherein:

the rear pivot arm is in a first configuration prior to said change in geometry,

in the first configuration, the lower end of the rear pivot arm is positioned forwardly of the upper end of the rear pivot arm, whereby the rear pivot arm is inclined rearward,

the rear pivot arm moves into a second configuration during said change in geometry, and

the second configuration is more upright than the first configuration.

17. A vehicle seat according to claim 13, wherein said change in geometry causing at least the rear of the seat frame to pivot upwardly comprises the rear of the seat frame and the backrest being raised as a result of the rear bearing point being displaced rearward relative to the front pivot arm in response to the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude.

18. A vehicle seat according to claim 13, wherein the drive is operative so that:

an angle defined between the rear pivot arm and the seat frame is changed during the adjusting of the height of the seat frame, and

said angle defined between the rear pivot arm and the seat frame is not changed during said change in geometry which occurs in response to the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude.

19. A vehicle seat according to claim 13, wherein:

the rear bearing point further comprises a bearing pin by which the lower end of the rear pivot arm is pivotably mounted in the rear coupling region;

said change in geometry comprises the bearing pin being displaced rearward relative to the front hinge so that a distance between the front pivot arm and the bearing pin is enlarged in response to the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude; and

the deformable element is positioned rearwardly of the bearing pin prior to said change in geometry which results from the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude.

20. A vehicle seat for being mounted in a vehicle that has a front and a rear, and for operating advantageously in the event of a rear crash of the vehicle, the vehicle seat comprising:

a seat part including;

a seat frame including a front and a rear, wherein the front of the seat frame is for being oriented toward the front of the vehicle and the rear of the seat frame is for being oriented toward the rear of the vehicle,

a front pivot arm having an upper end, which is pivotably mounted to the front of the seat frame, and a lower end, which is pivotably mounted to a reference structure, and

a rear arm having an upper end, which is connected to the rear of the seat frame, and a lower end, which is connected to the reference structure; and

a backrest mounted for extending at least generally upward from proximate the rear of the seat frame,

wherein the seat part is operative so that the seat part experiences a change in geometry in response to the rear crash exceeding a predetermined magnitude, and said change in geometry compensates for any rearward displacement of the backrest resulting from the rear crash, with said change in geometry at least causing the rear of the seat frame to pivot upwardly, and

wherein the seat part is constructed so that said change in geometry does not include any substantial relative movement between the rear arm and the seat frame, and wherein;

the lower end of the rear pivot arm is mounted to the reference structure at a rear bearing point, and

the rear bearing point comprises at least one deformable element which is operative so that the deformable element deforms in response to the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude so that said change in geometry comprises the rear bearing point being displaced rearward relative to the front pivot arm so that a distance between the front hinge and the rear bearing point is enlarged in response to the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude.

21. A vehicle seat according to claim 20, wherein the rear arm and the seat frame are connected rigidly to each other.

22. A vehicle seat according to claim 20, wherein:

the rear arm and the seat frame are pivotably connected to one another;

the rear arm, the seat frame, the front arm, and the reference structure cooperate with one another to define a four-bar linkage which functions as a height adjuster for adjusting a height of the seat frame;

said change in geometry is a first change in geometry of the four-bar linkage; and

the height adjuster further includes a drive, wherein;

the drive is mounted so that when the drive is operated for height-adjustment purposes, the drive causes a second change in geometry that adjusts a height of the seat frame and is different from the first change in geometry, and

the drive is operative to restrict any substantial relative movement between the rear arm and the seat frame while the drive is not operating for height-adjustment purposes.

23. A vehicle seat according to claim 20, wherein:

the rear pivot arm is in a first configuration prior to said change in geometry,

in the first configuration, the lower end of the rear pivot arm is positioned forwardly of the upper end of the rear pivot arm, whereby the rear pivot arm is inclined rearward,

the rear pivot arm moves into a second configuration during said change in geometry, and

the second configuration is more upright than the first configuration.

24. A vehicle seat according to claim 20, wherein said change in geometry causing at least the rear of the seat frame to pivot upwardly comprises the rear of the seat frame and the backrest being raised as a result of the rear bearing point being displaced rearward relative to the front pivot arm in response to the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude.

25. A vehicle seat according to claim 22, wherein the drive is operative so that:

an angle defined between the rear pivot arm and the seat frame is changed during the second change in geometry that adjusts the height of the seat frame, and

said angle defined between the rear pivot arm and the seat frame is not changed during said first change in geometry which occurs in response to the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude.

26. A vehicle seat according to claim 20, wherein:

the rear bearing point further comprises a bearing pin by which the lower end of the rear pivot arm is mounted in the rear coupling region;

said change in geometry comprises the bearing pin being displaced rearward relative to the front pivot arm so that a distance between the front pivot arm and the bearing pin is enlarged in response to the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude; and

the deformable element is positioned rearwardly of the bearing pin prior to said change in geometry which results from the rear crash exceeding the predetermined magnitude.