Seat back suspension arrangement
First Claim
1. A seat suspension arrangement comprising:
- a seat back platform element having a side margin, wherein the seat back platform element is provides limited resilient extension in normal use up to a maximum normal loading condition; and
a plurality of collapsible extensible link means connected to the side margin in vertically spaced relationship, the link means substantially restraining the side margin from displacement during normal loading conditions and yielding under abnormal loading conditions, the yielding of the link means being an extension of the link means by plastic deformation of the link means material beyond its yield point, wherein each of the link means increases in length, and not being a resilient extension of the link means in the manner of a spring.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A seat suspension arrangement intended to provide greater protection for occupants of a vehicle seat in the event of a rearward collision in a motor vehicle, comprises a platform element intended to be supported in the frame of the back rest of a vehicle seat in order to provide support for the seat upholstery, the platform element comprising side rails (1) between which are coupled sinuous wire springs (3) and a plurality of link means (6, 300, 301, 302) by means of which the platform element may be suspended in the frame of a vehicle seat. At least some of the link means (300, 301, 302) are designed to collapse under abnormal load such as would occur in a vehicle collision from the rear, to allow the platform element to move relatively to the seat frame and thus to provide protection for the seat occupant against rearward impact.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A seat suspension arrangement comprising:
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a seat back platform element having a side margin, wherein the seat back platform element is provides limited resilient extension in normal use up to a maximum normal loading condition; and a plurality of collapsible extensible link means connected to the side margin in vertically spaced relationship, the link means substantially restraining the side margin from displacement during normal loading conditions and yielding under abnormal loading conditions, the yielding of the link means being an extension of the link means by plastic deformation of the link means material beyond its yield point, wherein each of the link means increases in length, and not being a resilient extension of the link means in the manner of a spring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A seat suspension arrangement comprising:
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a seat back platform element having sinuous wire springs connected between a pair of side margins, the sinuous wire springs substantially straightening under a maximum normal loading condition; and a collapsible extensible link means connected to the side margin, the link means substantially restraining the side margin from displacement during normal loading conditions and yielding under abnormal loading conditions, wherein the link means increases in length, the abnormal loading conditions exceeding the maximum normal loading condition. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A seat suspension arrangement comprising:
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a seat back platform element having a pair of side margins and a spring element, the spring element substantially straightening under a maximum normal loading condition; and a pair of collapsible extensible link means respectively connected to the pair of side margins, the link means substantially restraining the side margins from displacement during normal loading conditions and yielding under abnormal loading conditions, the abnormal loading conditions exceeding the maximum normal loading condition, wherein the link means is selected according to its ability to absorb energy by extending in plastic deformation under levels of force that are greater than the maximum normal loading condition and wherein each of the link means increases in length. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification