Moveable back panel for a vehicle seat
First Claim
1. A vehicle seat having a back rest for supporting the back of a seat occupant, the backrest comprising:
- a seat back support assembly;
a cushion attached to the seat back support assembly;
a back panel that is positioned at an external surface of the back rest to face in a rearward direction and is movable between a flush position in which the back panel is secured flush to the seat back support assembly and in which the back panel forms the external surface and a spaced position in which the back panel is retained in a spaced relationship relative to the seat back support assembly;
a linkage operatively connected between the back panel and the seat back support assembly, wherein the linkage facilitates movement of the back panel between the flush and spaced positions;
a resilient member that biases the linkage to move the back panel toward the flush position, wherein movement of the back panel from the flush position to the spaced position in a collision event is opposed by the biasing force of the resilient member, and wherein the resilient member automatically resets the linkage after the collision event by returning the panel back to the flush position.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle seat having a seat back including an actuatable back panel. The back panel of the seat back may be moved between a normal, or flush position, and an actuated, or spaced position, relative to the seat back assembly. The back panel may be provided with connectors that may be used to connect the back panel to the seat assembly. The back panel is actuated in the event of a rear end collision to provide added clearance for penetration of an occupant'"'"'s torso into the seat back without interference by seat accessories, such as an adjustable lumbar system, a bolster assembly, massage assembly, or a heating/cooling system. The seat accessories may be secured to the back panel as a sub-assembly to facilitate manufacture. A resilient member biases a linkage or torsion bar to automatically reset the back panel.
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Citations
3 Claims
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1. A vehicle seat having a back rest for supporting the back of a seat occupant, the backrest comprising:
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a seat back support assembly; a cushion attached to the seat back support assembly; a back panel that is positioned at an external surface of the back rest to face in a rearward direction and is movable between a flush position in which the back panel is secured flush to the seat back support assembly and in which the back panel forms the external surface and a spaced position in which the back panel is retained in a spaced relationship relative to the seat back support assembly; a linkage operatively connected between the back panel and the seat back support assembly, wherein the linkage facilitates movement of the back panel between the flush and spaced positions; a resilient member that biases the linkage to move the back panel toward the flush position, wherein movement of the back panel from the flush position to the spaced position in a collision event is opposed by the biasing force of the resilient member, and wherein the resilient member automatically resets the linkage after the collision event by returning the panel back to the flush position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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Specification