Vehicle seat back including a deployable device

• US 9,475,447 B1
• Filed: 11/03/2015
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Whitens, Michael James, Faruque, Mohammed Omar, Jaradi, Dean M., Farooq, Iskander
• Primary Examiner(s): ENGLISH, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US14/931,003
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4249 fixed structures, i.e. where neither the seat nor a part thereof are displaced during a crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42709 involving residual deformation or fracture of the structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0273 automatically movable to an operative position, e.g. in case of collision or impending collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0407 using gas or liquid as energy absorbing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/02 Occupant safety arrangements or fittings , e.g. crash pads seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839

Abstract

A seat back includes a frame and a deployable device mounted to the frame. The deployable device includes a back panel, a front panel opposite the back panel, and a cavity between the back panel and the front panel. An inflator is in communication with the cavity. A clip is fixed to the back panel and is engaged with the frame.

Claims

1. A seat back comprising:

a frame;

a deployable device including a back panel, a front panel opposite the back panel, and a cavity defined by the back panel and the front panel;

an inflator in fluid communication with the cavity of the deployable device to expand the cavity with an inflation medium; and

a clip fixed to the back panel and engaged with the frame.

2. The seat back as set forth in claim 1, wherein the clip is integral with the back panel.

3. The seat back as set forth in claim 1, wherein the clip includes a hooked end.

4. The seat back as set forth in claim 1, wherein the frame defines a slot and wherein the frame defines a slot and wherein the clip includes a resilient finger engaged with the slot.

5. The seat back as set forth in claim 1, wherein the back panel is bonded to the frame.

6. The seat back as set forth in claim 1, wherein the back panel is welded to the frame.

7. The seat back as set forth in claim 1, wherein the back panel is adhered to the frame.

8. The seat back as set forth in claim 1, wherein the front panel is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer.

9. The seat back as set forth in claim 1, wherein the deployable device is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer.

10. The seat back as set forth in claim 9, wherein the frame is formed of a plastic material.

11. The seat back as set forth in claim 1, wherein the deployable device includes an intermediate portion extending from the back panel to the front panel, the cavity being defined between the front panel, the back panel, and the intermediate portion.

12. The seat back as set forth in claim 11, wherein the intermediate portion is folded between the front panel and the back panel.

13. The seat back as set forth in claim 11, wherein the intermediate member is integral with at least one of the back panel and the front panel.

14. The seat back as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inflator is disposed within the cavity.

15. The seat back as set forth in claim 10, wherein the inflator is mounted to the back panel.

16. The seat back as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inflator is mounted to the frame.

17. The seat back as set forth in claim 1, wherein the thicknesses of the front panel is between 1-3 mm.

18. The seat back as set forth in claim 1, wherein the front panel includes a class-A surface.

19. The seat back as set forth in claim 18, wherein the class-A surface has a grained texture.