Vehicle seat back including a deployable device

• US 9,586,552 B1
• Filed: 10/29/2015
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2015
• 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, Jaradi, Dean M., Farooq, Iskander, Faruque, Mohammed Omar
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Drew
• Application Number:
  US14/926,492
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

A seat back for a vehicle includes a frame and a deployable device. The deployable device includes a back panel fixed to the frame, a front panel opposite the back panel, and a cavity between the back panel and the front panel. The seat back includes an inflator in communication with the cavity of the deployable device. The deployable device is formed of a plastic material. During a frontal impact of the vehicle, the deployable device may be inflated from an undeployed position to a deployed position to absorb impact from an occupant of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A seat back comprising:

a frame;

a deployable device including a back panel bonded to the frame, a front panel opposite the back panel, a cavity between the back panel and the front panel, and an intermediate portion extending from the back panel and the front panel;

an inflator in communication with the cavity; and

the back panel, front panel, and intermediate portion being formed of a plastic material.

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

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

4. The seat back as set forth in claim 1, wherein the frame is formed of a plastic material.

5. The seat back as set forth in claim 4, wherein the back panel is welded to the frame.

6. The seat back as set forth in claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion includes a fold along the cavity between the front panel and the back panel.

7. The seat back as set forth in claim 6, wherein the fold is integral with at least one of the back panel and the front panel.

8. The seat back as set forth in claim 6, wherein the fold encloses the cavity between the front panel and the back panel.

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

10. The seat back as set forth in claim 9, wherein the inflator is mounted to the back panel.

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

12. The seat back as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a housing fixed to the back panel in communication with the cavity, the inflator being disposed in the housing.

13. The seat back as set forth in claim 12, wherein the housing is integral with the back panel.

14. The seat back as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a clip fixed to the back panel and to the frame.

15. The seat back as set forth in claim 14, wherein the clip is integral with the back panel.

16. The seat back as set forth in claim 14, wherein the clip includes a hooked end engaging 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, further comprising trim supported by the frame and defining a tear seam.

19. A seat back comprising:

a frame;

a deployable device including a back panel fixed to the frame, a front panel opposite the back panel, an intermediate portion extending between the back panel and the front panel, and a cavity between the back panel, the front panel, and the intermediate portion;

an inflator in communication with the cavity; and

the intermediate portion, the back panel, and the front panel being integral with each other.

20. A seat assembly comprising:

a seat bottom;

a seat back extending transverse to the seat bottom and having a frame;

a deployable device including a back panel bonded to the frame, a front panel opposite the back panel, a cavity between the back panel and the front panel;

an inflator in communication with the cavity; and

the deployable device being formed of a plastic material.