Energy absorbing seatback panel

• US 9,868,372 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2015
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: McCoy, Robert William, Jaradi, Dean M., Faruque, Mohammed Omar, Farooq, Iskander
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox, Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): VERAA, CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US14/685,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20160304046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4228 due to impact coming from the rear
• 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 2/42727 involving substantially rigid displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42745 of the back-rest B60N2/433 takes precedence; higher part of the back-rest moving together with the headrest B60N2/888
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/022 mounted on seats
• 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 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 seatback includes a frame and a panel rotatably coupled to the frame. A support bracket is attached to the frame with a lever is rotatably coupled to the support bracket. The lever is configured to engage the panel with a frame supported actuator via a cable attached to the actuator and the lever.

Claims

1. A seatback, comprising:

a frame;

a panel rotatably coupled to the frame at a hinge joint;

a support bracket supported by the frame;

a lever spaced from and decoupled from the hinge joint and rotatably coupled to the support bracket and configured to engage the panel at a location along the panel spaced from the hinge joint; and

a pyrotechnic actuator supported by the frame and having a cable attached to the lever.

2. The seatback of claim 1, further comprising a deployment member fixed to the lever and presenting an attachment point spaced from the lever and connected to the cable.

3. The seatback of claim 2, wherein the deployment member is a disc annularly disposed about the lever.

4. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the lever is deformable relative to the frame.

5. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the lever is plastic.

6. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the lever is a composite material.

7. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the lever is aluminum.

8. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the lever includes a rod coupled to the support bracket and an arm extending transversely from the rod.

9. The seatback of claim 8, wherein the arm is deformable relative to the frame.

10. The seatback of claim 8, wherein the arm includes a rounded end.

11. The seatback of claim 10, wherein the rounded end is deformable relative to the frame.

12. The seatback of claim 8, wherein the arm is plastic.

13. The seatback of claim 1, further comprising a spring mechanism coupled to the frame and to the panel and extending from the frame to the panel, the spring mechanism being spaced from the hinge joint.

14. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the panel is nylon.

15. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the panel is polyester.

16. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the seatback further comprising a strip positioned to receive the lever.

17. The seatback of claim 16, further comprising an additional strip extending across the panel.

18. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the panel presents a class A surface.

19. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the panel is flexible relative to the frame and the lever.

20. The seatback of claim 8, further comprising a deployment member fixed to the lever and presenting an attachment point spaced from the lever and connected to the cable, wherein the arm is longitudinally spaced from the attachment point along the lever.