VEHICLE SEATBACK

• US 20170355288A1
• Filed: 06/10/2016
• Published: 12/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Barbat, Saeed David, Jaradi, Dean M., Farooq, S.M. Iskander, Faruque, Mohammed Omar
• Granted Patent: US 10,059,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• 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: B60N 2/42772 characterised by the triggering system
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest

Abstract

A seatback includes a lower frame, an upper frame, and a hinge coupling the lower and upper frames. An actuator is fixed relative to the lower frame, and a cable extends from the actuator to the upper frame. In the event of a collision, the actuator pulls the cable, and the upper frame moves from an upright position to a bent position relative to the lower frame.

Claims

1. A seatback comprising:

a lower frame and an upper frame;

a hinge coupling the lower and upper frames;

an actuator fixed relative to the lower frame; and

a cable extending from the actuator to the upper frame.

2. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the lower and upper frames have respective first sides to which the hinge is coupled and respective second sides facing a different direction from the respective first sides, further comprising a bracket contacting the lower and upper frames at the second sides.

3. The seatback of claim 2, wherein the bracket is attached to the lower and upper frames and frangible relative to the cable.

4. The seatback of claim 2, wherein the bracket is attached to one of the lower and upper frames.

5. The seatback of claim 4, wherein the other of the lower and upper frames has a depression and the bracket has a bump sized to engage the depression.

6. The seatback of claim 4, wherein the bracket has a depression and the other of the lower and upper frames has a bump sized to engage the depression.

7. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the cable is movable from an undeployed position to a deployed position, the hinge is coupled to a side of the upper frame facing a forward direction, and in the deployed position the cable is disposed in the forward direction relative to the hinge.

8. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the hinge is coupled to a lower end of the upper frame, and the cable extends to an upper end of the upper frame.

9. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a pyrotechnic actuator.

10. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the lower and upper frames have respective sides to which the hinge is coupled, further comprising a tether connected to the lower and upper frames, the tether spaced from the sides.

11. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the hinge includes a cam preventing rotation of the upper frame relative to the lower frame beyond a limit.

12. The seatback of claim 1, wherein the hinge includes a spring biasing the upper frame to an upright position.

13. The seatback of claim 1, further comprising a pulley guiding the cable between the actuator and the upper frame.

14. A system comprising:

a lower frame and an upper frame;

a hinge coupling the lower and upper frames;

an actuator fixed relative to the lower frame;

a cable extending from the actuator to the upper frame; and

a controller in communication with the actuator and programmed to instruct the actuator to actuate in response to a frontal collision.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising an impact sensor in communication with the controller.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising an occupancy sensor for a seat disposed rearward relative to the lower frame, the occupancy sensor in communication with the controller.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is programmed to instruct the actuator to actuate in response to a frontal collision only if the occupancy sensor detects that the seat is occupied.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the lower and upper frames have respective first sides to which the hinge is coupled and respective second sides facing a different direction from the respective first sides, further comprising a bracket contacting the lower and upper frames at the second sides.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the bracket is attached to the lower and upper frames and frangible relative to the cable.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the bracket is attached to one of the lower and upper frames, one of the bracket and the other of the lower and upper frames has a depression, and the other of the bracket and the other of the lower and upper frames has a bump sized to engage the depression.