Vehicle occupant protection system by pivoting seats upward in case of a crash

• US 7,887,116 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chien-Chung Feng
• Original Assignee: Chien-Chung Feng
• Inventors: Feng, Chien-Chung
• Primary Examiner(s): LYJAK, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US12/442,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20100019555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 296/65.11, 296/65.12, 296/68.1, 296/187.03, 296/187.12, 297/216.18
• US Class Current: 296/65.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4235 transversal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42754 of the cushion
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering

Abstract

A vehicle occupant protection system in one embodiment includes a control device disposed in a front portion of a vehicle body; a plurality of first sensors mounted in the front portion of the vehicle body; two first actuators each mounted under a front seat equipped with a first seat belt; and a second actuator mounted under a rear seat equipped with a plurality of second seat belts; wherein each of the first sensors is adapted to detect a vehicle crash and send an activation signal to the control device when it occurs, and the activated control device is adapted to activate the first and second actuators to pivot the front and rear seats upward a predetermined angle to push seated vehicle occupants rearward.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

a control device disposed in a front portion of a vehicle body;

a plurality of first electronic sensors mounted in the front portion of the vehicle body;

a plurality of second electronic sensors mounted in both sides of the vehicle body;

two first actuators each mounted under a front seat equipped with a first seat belt; and

a second actuator mounted under a rear seat equipped with a plurality of second seat belts;

wherein each of the first electronic sensors is adapted to detect a vehicle crash and send an activation signal to the control device when it occurs, each of the second electronic sensors is adapted to detect a vehicle crash and send an activation signal to the control device when it occurs, and the activated control device is adapted to activate the first and second actuators to pivot the front and rear seats upward a predetermined angle to push seated vehicle occupants rearward.

2. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 1, wherein the second actuator comprises:

a first section having an open top;

a second section pivotably mounted in the first section and including first, second, and third compartments and two inclined cylinders each interconnecting the bottom of the second compartment and a front end thereof; and

a third section including two side cases each having an open top and pivotably secured to either one of the first and third compartments; and

an intermediate case having an open top and including two U-shaped rods each slidably passing both sides to secured to either side case, and two lateral cylinders each interconnecting the side the intermediate case and a longitudinal portion of the U-shaped rod.

3. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 2, wherein the control device, in response to receiving an activation signal sent from one of the second electronic sensors, is adapted to activate the second actuator to pivot the outer sides of the side cases upward a predetermined angle and push the side cases toward the intermediate case in response to a side crash.

4. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 2, wherein each of the inclined and lateral cylinders has one piston rod.

5. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 2, wherein each of the inclined and lateral cylinders has two opposite piston rods.

6. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second actuators is controlled by the control device by means of a pneumatic arrangement.

7. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second actuators is controlled by the control device by means of an electromagnetic arrangement.

8. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second actuators is controlled by the control device by means of a linking mechanism.

9. The vehicle occupant protection system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second actuators is controlled by the control device by means of a hydraulic arrangement.