Mechatronic vehicle safety seat
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle safety seat, comprising:
- a seat bottom frame having a front and a rear, said seat bottom frame being movable when a collision is imminent substantially instantly from a substantially horizontal orientation for normal conditions to a deployed angled orientation, wherein in said deployed angled orientation said rear is substantially lower than said rear in said horizontal orientation for normal conditions, and wherein in said deployed angled orientation said rear is substantially lower than said front;
a substantially vertical backrest frame, said backrest frame being movable when a collision is imminent substantially instantly from a normal backrest configuration to a deployed backrest configuration, said backrest frame being movable rearwards and downwards to said deployed backrest configuration, said backrest frame in said normal backrest configuration defining a backrest angle relative to a vehicle floor, and said backrest frame in said deployed backrest configuration defining a substantially equal angle; and
a seat recliner having a substantially vertical orientation and having a front edge;
wherein said backrest frame comprises a rigid linkage, said rigid linkage is disposed forward of said front edge of said seat recliner, said rigid linkage forming a gap between said rigid linkage and said seat recliner when said backrest frame is in said normal backrest configuration, said gap being substantially decreased when said backrest frame is in said deployed backrest configuration.
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Abstract
The mechatronic vehicle safety seat described transforms the geometry of the bottom frame and backrest frame associated with a head restraint when a collision is imminent. On a signal from a pre-crash detection device, or a manual or verbal indication, an energized solenoid instantly releases the forces of torsion springs and triggers the seat bottom and backrest for concurrent movement in sufficient time to mitigate excessive accelerations, loads and moments of forces acting upon seated occupants in response to impact modes. The distorted geometry of the bottom frame and backrest with head restraint enhances the safety performance of the seat belt and reduces the aggressiveness of airbags.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle safety seat, comprising:
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a seat bottom frame having a front and a rear, said seat bottom frame being movable when a collision is imminent substantially instantly from a substantially horizontal orientation for normal conditions to a deployed angled orientation, wherein in said deployed angled orientation said rear is substantially lower than said rear in said horizontal orientation for normal conditions, and wherein in said deployed angled orientation said rear is substantially lower than said front; a substantially vertical backrest frame, said backrest frame being movable when a collision is imminent substantially instantly from a normal backrest configuration to a deployed backrest configuration, said backrest frame being movable rearwards and downwards to said deployed backrest configuration, said backrest frame in said normal backrest configuration defining a backrest angle relative to a vehicle floor, and said backrest frame in said deployed backrest configuration defining a substantially equal angle; and a seat recliner having a substantially vertical orientation and having a front edge; wherein said backrest frame comprises a rigid linkage, said rigid linkage is disposed forward of said front edge of said seat recliner, said rigid linkage forming a gap between said rigid linkage and said seat recliner when said backrest frame is in said normal backrest configuration, said gap being substantially decreased when said backrest frame is in said deployed backrest configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of transforming the geometry of a vehicle seat to protect a seat occupant when a collision is imminent, comprising:
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moving a seat bottom frame substantially instantly when a collision is imminent from a substantially horizontal orientation to a deployed angled orientation in which a rear of said seat bottom frame is lower than a front of said seat bottom frame; and moving substantially instantly before said imminent collision a substantially vertical backrest frame from a normal backrest configuration to a deployed backrest configuration by moving said backrest frame rearwards and downwards to said deployed backrest configuration, said backrest frame in said normal backrest configuration defining a backrest angle with respect to a vehicle floor, and said backrest frame in said deployed backrest configuration defining a substantially equal angle; wherein said moving said seat bottom frame comprises moving a rear support from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position by a pivoting of said rear support at a rear pivot located at said rear of said seat bottom frame and at a rear support upper end, thereby partially rotating said seat bottom frame about a front pivot located at said front of said seat bottom frame and at a front support upper end and thereby lowering said rear of said seat bottom frame, so that said front of said seat bottom frame in said deployed angled orientation is not substantially higher or lower relative to said vehicle floor than said front of said seat bottom frame in said substantially horizontal orientation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 20)
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14. A vehicle safety seat, comprising:
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a seat bottom frame having a front and a rear; a substantially vertical front support having a front support upper end and a front support lower end, said front support upper end being pivotally connected at a front pivot to said front of said seat bottom frame; and a substantially vertical rear support having a rear support upper end and a rear support lower end, said rear support upper end being pivotally connected to said rear at a rear pivot; wherein said rear support is movable from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position by pivoting at said rear pivot, thereby lowering said rear and causing said seat bottom frame to rotate partially about said front pivot from a substantially horizontal orientation for normal conditions to a deployed angled orientation when a collision is imminent, said rear in said deployed angled orientation being lower than said front; and wherein said front of said seat bottom frame in said angled orientation is not substantially higher or lower relative to said vehicle floor than said front of said seat bottom frame in said substantially horizontal orientation for normal conditions. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification