Anti-submarine vehicle seat device

• US 6,450,573 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2000
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NHK Spring Company Limited
• Original Assignee: NHK Spring Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Hiroyoshi, Shono, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US09/525,994
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.1, 297/284.11, 297/284.1
• US Class Current: 297/216.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42718 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42763 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42781 mechanical triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering

Abstract

Provided is a vehicle seat device equipped with an anti-submarine vehicle seat device for preventing submarine at the time of an impact without increasing the size and weight of the seat assembly. The casing and/or the restraint member serve the dual purposes as structural members for the seat frame so that the overall amount of the material for the structural members can be reduced.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat device for raising a front part of a seat member to prevent a vehicle occupant from slipping forward under a seat belt in an impact situation including a vehicle crash, comprising:

a fixed casing;

a vehicle occupant restraint member supported by said casing so as to be moveable between a rest position and a deployed position; and

a power actuator supported by said casing for selectively driving said restraint member toward said deployed position;

said fixed casing including a pair of side members each having a front end pivotally supporting said restraint member, and a rear cross member extending across rear parts of said side members,

said restraint member extending across front ends of said side members.

2. A vehicle seat device according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle occupant restraint member being a sole structural member extending across front parts of said side members.

3. A vehicle seat device according to claim 1, wherein said seat frame additionally includes a front cross member connecting front ends of said side members and extending in parallel with said restraint member.

4. A vehicle seat device according to claim 1, wherein said seat member is provided with a notch to facilitate deformation thereof when said restraint member is actuated.

5. A vehicle seat device according to claim 1, wherein said restraint member comprises a rod member.

6. A vehicle device according to claim 5, wherein said restraint member additionally comprises a plate member attached to said rod member at least over a part of length of said rod member.

7. A vehicle seat device according to claim 5, wherein said restraint member additionally comprises a wire member attached to said rod member.

8. A vehicle seat device for raising a front part of a seat member to prevent a vehicle occupant from slipping forward under a seat belt in an impact situation including a vehicle crash, comprising:

a fixed casing including a pair of side members extending in a for-and-aft direction of the vehicle on either side of said seat device, and a cross member extending across rear ends of said side members;

a vehicle occupant restraint member supported by and extending laterally across said side members so as to be moveable between a rest position and a deployed position; and

a power actuator supported by said casing for selectively driving said restraint member toward said deployed position;

said vehicle occupant restraint member being a sole structural member extending across front parts of said side members.