Force-absorbing Means Incorporated Into Back Patents (Class 297/216.13)
  • Patent number: 11958435
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat portion having a frame assembly. A routing mechanism includes a plate member that is operably coupled to the frame assembly. The plate member includes a first portion having first and second raised portions spaced-apart from one another to define a channel therebetween. The routing mechanism further includes a connection assembly having upper and lower tabs spaced-apart from one another with a routing column assembly interconnecting the upper and lower tabs. A tether member includes a body portion that is routed through the routing mechanism, in that the body portion of the tether member is received in the channel of the routing mechanism and is wrapped around the routing column assembly and directed in forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish, Macit Aktas, Benjamin Yilma, Derek Board, Kevin Michael Pline, Raed EL-Jawahri, Jeffrey Charles Paddock, James Robert Chascsa, II, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Rachel Demerly, Robyne McBride
  • Patent number: 11932144
    Abstract: A vehicle seat that can suitably protect a seated occupant against an impact from a seat width direction is described, while enlargement of the seat in the seat width direction is restrained. A support member provided to the vehicle seat supports the seated occupant from a side of the seated occupant, and includes an inner plate attached to a seat width direction inner side of a side frame, an outer plate attached to a seat width direction outer side of the side frame, and a connection plate for connecting the inner plate and the outer plate on a seat front side. The outer plate is attached to the seat width direction outer side of the side frame at a position that does not overlap in the seat width direction with attachment positions of the inner plate and the side frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinichi Tanabe, Akimitsu Kurihara
  • Patent number: 11833946
    Abstract: A backrest of a vehicle seat, comprising a backrest frame, comprising a first lateral flank, a second lateral flank, an upper crossmember, a lower crossmember. The backrest further comprises a seat belt anchoring means support frame, comprising two upper tubes, each extending through a separate through-hole formed in the upper crossmember, so as to extend, at least partially, above the upper crossmember, a lower tube, positioned near the lower crossmember of the backrest frame, and fixed to at least one lateral flank of the backrest frame, at least one connecting tube connecting at least one upper tube to the lower tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Frédéric Pinto, Anne-Isabelle Mallet-Da Costa, Joël Canteleux
  • Patent number: 11820259
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat and a seatback. The seatback includes a frame that has opposing first and second frame members and first and second displaceable panels that are pivotably coupled to the first and second frame members. The first and second displaceable panels are movable between stored positions and deployed positions in response to a force exerted on the seatback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ranjit Nagi, Nathan Pabalate, Nicholas Gilbert, Patrick Davis, Megan Romelfanger
  • Patent number: 11807145
    Abstract: A headrest level adjustment mechanism includes a main support that is provided on a side of a main headrest stay, and cooperates with the main headrest stay to provide a locking mechanism that adjusts a level of the headrest and locks the headrest at a predetermined level, and a sub support that is provided on a side of a sub headrest stay, and cooperates with the sub headrest stay to provide a movement restriction mechanism that restricts downward movement of the headrest and keeps the headrest at a lowest-level position, in a condition where the main headrest stay is engaged with the main support, and a gap is provided between the headrest and a seat back, the main headrest stay and the sub headrest stay being held by the seat back and hanging down from two positions of the headrest spaced from each other in a seat width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuya Ueda
  • Patent number: 11752911
    Abstract: An occupant support includes a seat bottom, a seat back, and a cam. The seat bottom includes a side frame member. The seat back includes a headrest configured to fold about a headrest fold axis. The side frame member is rotatably coupled to the seat back and configured to rotate relative to the seat back about a side frame rotation axis. The cam is coupled to the side frame member and coupled to the headrest such that rotation of the cam causes the headrest to rotate about the headrest fold axis. Rotation of the cam about the side frame rotation axis relative to the seat back causes the cam to pull a connecting member which causes the headrest to rotate about the headrest fold axis to a folded position. The rotation of the headrest about the headrest fold axis occurs during the occupant support folding movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
    Inventors: Sachin Ubale, Alex Giuro
  • Patent number: 11669094
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an MDPS system including: an autonomous driving cancellation determination unit configured to determine whether to cancel autonomous driving, using column torque passed through a band stop filter, under an autonomous driving condition; and a signal processing unit configured to calculate command steering angle acceleration information using command steering angle information outputted from an autonomous driving system. When the steering angle acceleration information is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value, the autonomous driving cancellation determination unit may determine that urgent steering is performed by the autonomous driving system, and forbid cancellation of the autonomous driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae Hong Kim
  • Patent number: 11642988
    Abstract: A lock assembly for a vehicle seat includes a lever that has a body and a retention tab that extends from the body, a biasing member that is operably coupled to the body of the lever, an engagement member that is proximate to the lever, and an inertia member that has a weighted head and a retention hook. The inertia member is operable between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Susko
  • Patent number: 11628754
    Abstract: A bracket for attaching an actuator is easily bonded to a side frame while avoiding interference with a shaft for driving a reclining mechanism. In a seat side frame which is provided at each of both ends of a seat back frame in the width direction, a reclining mechanism, and an actuator, the reclining mechanism is attached to a side wall of the side frame, and the actuator is fixed to an attachment bracket bonded to an inner surface of a portion to which the reclining mechanism is attached in the side wall in the width direction. An upper portion which is disposed above the attachment portion of the reclining mechanism and a lower portion which is disposed below the attachment portion thereof are connected to each other at the rear ends thereof and are separated from each other at the front ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hoshi
  • Patent number: 11560076
    Abstract: A seat back pad 70 has a groove 73 for tucking a skin material therein, formed at borders between a central portion 71 and side portions 72. A hole (slot hole 74) is formed in a bottom of the groove 73 along the groove 73. A tuck-in wire 76 for tucking the skin material in includes a plurality of tuck-in portions 76A provided along the groove 73, and a connecting portion (detour portion 76B) detouring around the hole and connecting the tuck-in portions 76A. With this configuration, when an upper body of an occupant P subsides into a seat back S2 in a rear-end collision of a vehicle, the central portion 71, defined by the groove 73 as a border, is easily and sufficiently moved rearward relative to the left and right side portions 72. Furthermore, the tuck-in wire 76 is not exposed through the hole, and thus adhesion between the seat back pad 70 and the tuck-in wire 76 can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takamasa Adachi, Tsutomu Matsuzaki, Masayuki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11554696
    Abstract: An anti-submarine arrangement for a vehicle seat includes an elongated member pivotably attached between opposing members of a seat bottom support structure. A leg is fixedly attached to the elongated member and pivotably attached to a structural portion of the vehicle seat. The elongated member is rotatable forward and downward relative to the structural portion of the vehicle seat. A damper arrangement is attached to the leg and to the structural portion of the vehicle seat. The damper arrangement opposes a forward and downward rotation of the elongated member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhiqiang Hu, Junjie Mo, Suhua Zhou, Jianliang Ma, Rahul Deshmukh, Yue Zuo
  • Patent number: 11541830
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a floor. A seat is supported by the floor. The seat includes a seatback. An actuator is fixed relative to the floor. The actuator is spaced from the seat along a vehicle-longitudinal axis. A track is fixed relative to the floor and is disposed between the seat and the actuator. The track is elongated along the vehicle-longitudinal axis. A slider is disposed in the track. The slider is slidable relative to the track by the actuator to a deployed position. A cable includes a first end fixed relative to the seatback and a second end fixed relative to the slider. The cable is under tension when the slider is in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 11498512
    Abstract: A vehicle seat of a motor vehicle has a side airbag provided on the vehicle seat, and a tension band assembly which includes a first tension band and a second tension band. The first tension band has an upper end and a lower end. The upper end of the first tension band is fixed in the region of the upper end of the backrest of the vehicle seat while the lower end is arranged in the region of the seat surface of the vehicle seat. The second tension band has an upper end and a lower end. The upper end of the second tension band is fixed in the region of the head support on the vehicle seat while the lower end is rigidly connected to the first tension band below the upper end of the first tension band. The tension band assembly is rigidly connected to the side airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Huf, Sylvia Kleindl, Fabian Koehler, Robert Martin, Adam McNeill, Martin Unger
  • Patent number: 11390201
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a first seatback and a second seatback. The first seatback may include a first seatback upper portion and a first seatback lower portion. The second seatback may include a second seatback upper portion and a second seatback lower portion. The seat assembly may further include an intermediate back section including an intermediate upper portion and an intermediate lower portion. The first seatback lower portion and the second seatback lower portion may be arranged on opposite sides of the intermediate lower portion. The seat assembly may also include a carrier frame to which the first seatback upper portion, the second seatback upper portion, and the intermediate upper portion may be connected. At least one of the first seatback upper portion, the second seatback lower portion, and the intermediate upper portion may be adjustably connected to the carrier frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Carsten Schroeder, Bernd Rager, Norman Windham, Ingo Riede
  • Patent number: 11390234
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back frame, an elastic installation supporting member installed in the seat back frame, and an airbag within a seat back, the vehicle seat causing the airbag to inflate and develop within the seat back. An inflator is attached to the seat back frame. The seat back frame has a substantially frame shape along a seat back shape. The airbag is provided in the seat back frame in the substantially frame shape. The inflator is attached to at least one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the seat back frame in the substantially frame shape. An inflation and a development of the airbag in the seat back due to an operation of the inflator allows the airbag to elastically support an upper body of a seated person and to elastically receive an impact force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isamu Nagasawa, Yoshihiro Kamata
  • Patent number: 11377059
    Abstract: Subtotal enclosures for inflatable airbag assemblies are disclosed that preserve a packaged state of the inflatable airbag assembly and that may be installed beneath or behind a seat covering material whereby “read-through” of the inflatable airbag assembly through the seat covering material is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Paul Dinsdale, Don Larry Parker, Derek John Wiscombe, Adam Smith
  • Patent number: 11273741
    Abstract: A mechanism for suspending a skin material on a seat rear surface with a simple and light structure is described. A vehicle seat including a seat back forming a backrest surface includes a seat back pad which is a cushion material of the seat back, a skin material which covers the seat back pad, a wire of which a part is embedded inside the seat back pad and another part is exposed to a seat rear surface, and a hook which is attached to an end portion of the skin material on the side of the seat rear surface. The wire engages with the hook so that the skin material is suspended and fixed to the seat rear surface of the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Sakoda, Kohei Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11267381
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle seat including: a seat back frame standing from a seat rear end side of a seat cushion, a left and right pair of cushion frames, the seat back frame being supported to be tiltable in a seat front-and-rear direction, and the seat back frame structuring a framework of a seat back; and a seat back panel that is provided at the seat rear side of the seat back frame, an upper frame structuring an upper end portion at the seat rear side of the seat back frame, an upper end portion of the seat back panel being disposed at the seat upper side relative to the upper frame, and the seat back panel displacing toward the seat lower side when an impact load is applied from the upper side of the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiro Watanabe, Tomoharu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11117501
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for a system that includes a seat mounted in a vehicle. The seat includes a base, a back support, a hinge, and a seat belt integrated into the seat. The back support is capable of rotating relative to the base and thereby reclining. The hinge is between the base and the back support and is configured to lock the back support in positions in relation to the base. The seat belt has a shoulder portion and a lap portion and is attached to the seat at a shoulder anchor in the back support and a base anchor in the base. When a generated torque, created from a forward force applied by the shoulder portion of the seat belt, exceeds a threshold amount of torque, the hinge is configured to unlock and back support is configured to rotate forward from a reclined position towards an upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Daniel, Daniel Lynn Larner
  • Patent number: 10994664
    Abstract: A holding apparatus is adapted for holding a vehicle test device to be used for testing a test sample that is a vehicle or a part of the vehicle on a seat of the test sample, and includes: a mounting stand on which the vehicle test device is mounted; and a fixing a mechanism configured to be connected to an ISOFIX anchor provided in the test sample to fix the mounting stand to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: HORIBA, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Matsubara, Kazuki Furukawa
  • Patent number: 10974627
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a position of a vehicle seat from a reclined position to a pre-determinable safety position. The method includes detecting an imminent or ongoing frontal or semi-frontal collision, pretensioning a seat belt associated with the vehicle seat, the seat belt being directly or indirectly attached to a backrest of the vehicle seat, and adjusting the position of the vehicle seat from the reclined position to the pre-determinable safety position by means of a seat adjustment means associated with the vehicle seat, the seat adjustment means being actuated by a collision force generated by the imminent or ongoing frontal or semi-frontal collision and applied via a seat occupant and/or the seat belt to the vehicle seat. The present invention also relates to an occupant safety arrangement for a vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Johan Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 10974624
    Abstract: An impact absorption assembly for a seat back is provided having a deformation zone as least partially disposed above a top surface of a seat back structure. The deformation zone deforms plastically upon an impact from a rearward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Harald Fischer, Jaroslav Solc, Ulrich Schneider, Raphael Markert, Dorit Bachmann, Sybille Bruns
  • Patent number: 10889207
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjuster (10) for a vehicle seat (1) includes at least one rail pair (12) with a longitudinal direction (x) relatively sliding and engaging first seat rail (14), for connecting to a seat frame side part (6), and a second seat rail (16), for connecting to a vehicle structure. A first clamping element (20), fastened to the first seat rail and a second clamping element (22), fastened to the second seat rail are usually spaced apart from each other and engage with each other, in response to a defined application of force, for example in the event of a crash. The first clamping element has a connection section (24), which can be connected to a surface (8) of a seat frame side part (6) directed toward the rear. The vehicle seat includes the longitudinal adjuster and a seat frame side part, which is connected to a first seat rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S.á r.l.
    Inventors: Holger Emrich, Michael Koenig, Martin Reischmann, Ralf Velten
  • Patent number: 10875427
    Abstract: An attachment member allowing a connected state between the attachment member and a guide member to be more easily checked is provided. The attachment member for attaching a stay cloth, which guides a deployment direction of an airbag module, to a seat back frame has a holding portion which includes a holding space for housing an attachment portion of the stay cloth. The holding portion is inserted into an attachment hole to be fitted into the attachment hole that is formed in the seat back frame. A through-hole which allows the attachment portion of the stay cloth in the holding space to be exposed in a penetrating direction of the attachment hole is formed in the holding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinichi Tanabe, Hiroshi Baba, Makoto Takeuchi, Hiroshi Izawa, Yoshihisa Kurosaki
  • Patent number: 10857968
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a lateral shock absorber disposed on a base of a child car safety seat. The lateral shock absorber includes a protective fender. An end of the protective fender is pivoted to the base, so that the protective fender is pivotally switchable between a folded state and an unfolded state relative to the base. The unfolded protective fender can collide with a car body during a side impact collision for transferring a side impact to the base and away from a child sitting in the child car safety seat. Therefore, it can effectively reduce a risk of injury or death of the child due to the side impact and provide enhanced protection for the child. Furthermore, the lateral shock absorber has advantages of simple structure and easy operation. Besides, the present invention further discloses a child car safety seat with the aforementioned lateral shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Bambino Prezioso Switzerland AG
    Inventor: Hong-Bo Chen
  • Patent number: 10836283
    Abstract: A seat lock device includes: a striker installed in a vehicle body; and a lock unit provided on a seat back tiltable in a seat front-rear direction and holding the seat back in a standing state by locking the striker. The striker includes a base bracket attached to the vehicle body and a U-shaped rod locked by the lock unit, the base bracket has two support portions which respectively support end portions of the rod with a space therebetween in the seat front-rear direction, and at least one of the support portions deforms when a load exceeding a predetermined load is input to the rod so as to permit movement of the end portion of the rod supported by the support portion with respect to the base bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Toda
  • Patent number: 10543760
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat, a movable frame tiltably connected to a seat back is provided with an impact absorbing property. The vehicle seat comprises a seat back frame, and a movable frame connected to the seat back frame via a reclining mechanism so as to be tiltable around a laterally extending rotational axial line and to correspond to an upper back portion of an occupant, the movable frame being provided with a first weakened portion configured to be a starting point of deformation when an external load exceeding a prescribed value is applied to the movable frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Yamabe
  • Patent number: 10518663
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes: (a) a seat structure having a seat cushion frame including a first seat side member and a second seat side member, and a seat back frame; (b) a seat slide mechanism that is capable of moving the seat structure; (c) a first upper riser that is fixed to the seat slide mechanism and supports the first seat side member; (d) a second upper riser that is fixed to the seat slide mechanism and supports the second seat side member; (e) a first locking mechanism that locks and unlocks the first seat side member to and from the seat slide mechanism; and (f) a second locking mechanism that locks the second seat side member to the seat slide mechanism when an excessive load is input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: TACHI-S ENGINEERING U.S.A., INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yasuo Kakishima, Anand Abraham
  • Patent number: 10513207
    Abstract: Device for connecting a region, which is lower when viewed in the vehicle seat height direction, of a backrest to a region, which is rear when viewed in the vehicle seat length direction, of a seat part of a vehicle seat, a tilt adjustment device which is rotatable about a first axis of rotation extending in the vehicle seat width direction for adjusting a tilt of the backrest relative to the seat part being connected to the seat part, wherein the device comprises an adapter element which is rigidly connected to the tilt adjustment device and is rotatable about the first axis of rotation, which element has a first recess which extends at a first angle to a backrest length direction, the first recess being able to be connected to a first tab which is arranged on the backrest and is formed so as to be complementary to the first recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: GRAMMER AG
    Inventors: Florian Schanderl, Thomas Haller
  • Patent number: 10493935
    Abstract: A method for controlling an occupant protection system of a vehicle includes reading in at least one vehicle acceleration value representing an acceleration of the vehicle and at least one model parameter of an occupant model by which a vehicle occupant is represented by at least two, in particular three, mass points. The vehicle acceleration value and the model parameter are processed in order to determine at least one motion parameter relating to the two, in particular three, mass points. Using the motion parameter, a control signal for controlling the occupant protection system is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Inventors: Gian Antonio D'Addetta, Heiko Freienstein, Henning Hoepfner, Josef Kolatschek
  • Patent number: 10479507
    Abstract: An airplane seat device having at least one backrest, at least one seat component coupled to the backrest and a backrest impact safety device which, by partially decoupling the backrest from the seat component, is provided to at least partly reduce impact forces on the backrest at least in the event of crash. The backrest impact safety device is provided to decouple the backrest from the seat component before the impact forces takes effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: RECARO Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Rebmann, Dietmar Schmeer, Mohammed Daher, Gunther Jaeger, Andreas Wagner
  • Patent number: 10471862
    Abstract: A back portion of a seat includes a frame and an occupant support that is supported on the frame. The occupant support defines an A-surface and a B-surface located on an opposed side of the frame from the A-surface. An insert is located in the occupant support between the frame and the B-surface. The insert includes a frame cradle, and the frame has an upper end that is located in the frame cradle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Jones, Clark Pitcher
  • Patent number: 10464517
    Abstract: A side air bag device restraining an occupant at the early stage of the deployment. A seat back has a side support part bulging in a vehicle forward direction at a side part in a vehicle width direction. A seat frame of the seat is provided inside the seat. The side air bag device has an air bag deploying to restrain an occupant and an inflator supplying inflating gas. A side frame part of the seat frame is inside the side support part, and the side air bag device is on an outer side of the side frame. The air bag has a main chamber deploying forward and to an outer side of the side support part and a sub-chamber deploying inside the side support part. The sub-chamber deploys further toward a forward side than a vehicle forward edge of the side frame, at least a front part of the side support part protrudes and deforms toward an occupant side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Yuto Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Taguchi
  • Patent number: 10421377
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a pair of side frames, a seat back which includes a pair of connecting parts which respectively support the pair of side frames to be tiltable to a front side of a seat, and a seat belt which includes an upper body restricting part, which restricts an upper body of an occupant in the seat back, and in which the upper body restricting part is moored in the side frame. The connecting part which supports the side frame includes a base part which is fixed in a frame of the seat cushion, and a force limiter part which is interposed between the base part and the side frame and allows tilting of the side frame through a plastic deformation when a tensile force exceeding a predetermined value is loaded on the upper body restricting part of the seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Tobata, Takao Tsutsui, Atsushi Koike
  • Patent number: 10391892
    Abstract: A seat for a vehicle includes a seat cushion, a seat back, and a reclining device configured to allow the seat back to be tilted to the seat cushion. The seat back includes a back frame having an opening and a pipe frame comprising a pipe member, and the pipe frame includes a distal end part. The lower part of the pipe frame extends through the opening such that the distal end part is located inside a space defined by the back frame and the reclining device, and the lower part of the pipe frame is fixed to the back frame at the opening. Rotation center of the reclining device is set so as to be aligned with axial center of the lower part of the pipe frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Hayashi, Norihisa Narita, Tatsuya Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 10363836
    Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure provides a seatback fastening structure for fastening a seatback to a body of a vehicle. A body bracket includes a main body portion covered by a seat bracket. The main body portion includes a receiving surface, an upper surface extending from a vertical upper end of the receiving surface, and a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface extending from both ends of the receiving surface in a width direction. The seat bracket includes a base portion covering the receiving surface, a retaining portion retaining the upper surface from vertically above, a first side wall and a second side wall respectively abutting on the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface. The main body portion and the base portion are fastened with a bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuji Goto
  • Patent number: 10343638
    Abstract: In a vehicular seat installed with a side airbag device, an inside bag completes inflation and deployment earlier than a side air bag body, on the inner side of the side airbag body in the vehicle width direction, and presses an occupant inward in the vehicle width direction. The inside bag inflates and deploys at an upper level than the abdominal region of the occupant. Further, reaction force is applied inward in the vehicle width direction from a reaction force plate supported by an outer side frame, to the inside bag. The reaction force plate extends in a vehicle front-back direction, and extends toward the front of the vehicle beyond a front edge portion of the outer side frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Osamu Fukawatase, Takamichi Komura, Hiroe Sugawara
  • Patent number: 10343563
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to an end part for a cross member for a vehicle seat, a cross member for a vehicle seat comprising at least one end part, and a vehicle seat comprising at least one such cross member. The end part has a first portion with an impact receiving surface adapted to receive an impact during a side collision. The cross member has a longitudinal center line. A center point of the impact receiving surface is offset with respect to the longitudinal center line so as to bend the cross member in a predetermined direction during the side collision. The present invention provides for a simple way to modify a cross member, or to provide a cross member with additional functionality and increased safety properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Jorgen Lindberg, Tobias Eriksson, Veronica Amvall, Adam Skagius
  • Patent number: 10321730
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an impactproof head protection device. The device comprises of an outer shell, a flexible ring shaped elastomeric seal, an impact reduction layer and a base helmet. The impact reduction layer further comprises of an elastic net, on to which a plurality of impact reduction sub-assemblies are embedded. When the outer shell is subjected to an impact, the impact is conveyed to the impact reduction layer. The impact reduction sub-assemblies absorb the impact, and dissipate the same in the form of rotational motion of the microgears. The microgears stop rotating once all the absorbed energy is dissipated, and all the components of the impact reduction sub-assemblies once again revert to their original position on the elastic net.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Inventor: Samir Hanna Safar
  • Patent number: 10315542
    Abstract: A vehicle seat with an energy absorption structure, includes a cushion side plate and an angle adjuster lower connection plate, wherein an impact groove is provided on the angle adjuster lower connection plate, and the impact groove includes a straight groove part and a circular groove part communicating each other from top to bottom. The vehicle seat further includes an energy absorption disc including an annular part, a position part and impact fracture parts connected between the annular part and the position part. A first nut is securely coupled to the cushion side plate. A step bolt is provided including a head part, a step part and a stud which are coaxially connected in sequence. The stud bolt passes through the circular groove part, the annular part and threads to the first nut to make the step part passing through the circular groove part and press-fitting with the energy absorption disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Yanfeng Adient Seating Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qingbao Meng, Yueyun Chen, Huijia Tao
  • Patent number: 10300818
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a framework of a seat back, which includes an outer side frame located on an outer side of a vehicle and an inner side frame located on an inner side of the vehicle; a lower panel bridged between a lower portion of the outer side frame and a lower portion of the inner side frame; and a reinforcing member including: a first part attached to a surface of the outer side frame facing the inner side frame and extending along a longitudinal direction of the outer side frame; and a second part connected to the first part at one end thereof and extending toward the inner side frame, wherein, in a front view, the second part is located lower than an upper end of the lower panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hidekazu Kito
  • Patent number: 10266086
    Abstract: Provided is a seat frame including a resin material and able to secure high rigidity. The present disclosure relates to a seat frame that forms a framework of a vehicle seat on which an occupant sits, and that is formed of resin and to have a closed hollow cross-sectional shape. A resin material that forms at least a portion of the seat frame contains at least a unidirectional material which is a carbon fiber resin having a fiber orientation where fibers run in one direction, and the one direction in which the fibers of the unidirectional material run is a direction in which a tensile force is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaya Furuta
  • Patent number: 10266087
    Abstract: A bracket for attaching an actuator is easily bonded to a side frame while avoiding interference with a shaft for driving a reclining mechanism. In a seat side frame which is provided at each of both ends of a seat back frame in the width direction, a reclining mechanism, and an actuator, the reclining mechanism is attached to a side wall of the side frame, and the actuator is fixed to an attachment bracket bonded to an inner surface of a portion to which the reclining mechanism is attached in the side wall in the width direction. An upper portion which is disposed above the attachment portion of the reclining mechanism and a lower portion which is disposed below the attachment portion thereof are connected to each other at the rear ends thereof and are separated from each other at the front ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hoshi
  • Patent number: 10252654
    Abstract: A seat back frame including an upper frame forming an upper framework of a seat back and extending in a seat width direction, and a side frame forming a side framework of the seat back and extending in a seat height direction, wherein an upper end of the side frame extends in the seat height direction up to a portion of the upper frame extending in the seat width direction, and wherein the side frame includes a general surface portion which is in contact with the upper fame from below with its surface facing the seat width direction, and a flange portion which protrudes from the general surface portion with its surface facing a seat front and rear direction, is in contact with the upper frame from at least one of the front and rear sides, and is welded to the upper frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kimiyasu Kurokawa, Yoshihiro Motoi
  • Patent number: 10239430
    Abstract: An airbag assembly includes an attachment bracket, an inflatable airbag and a deployment device. The attachment bracket is attached to an outboard bolster section of a seat assembly. The attachment bracket defines an attachment section that extends along an inboard surface of the outboard bolster section and a deflection surface extending from the attachment section with the inflatable airbag. The deployment section is attached to an inboard side of the attachment section. The deflection surface is dimensioned and shaped such that upon deployment of the inflatable airbag the inflatable airbag is guided to move by the deflection surface in a forward deployment direction relative to the outboard bolster section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: David Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 10202058
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back frame having a pair of side frames; a back panel main body constituted of resin and having a main wall and projections, the projections projecting away from the main wall to a seat width direction outer side; and back panel supports constituted of a resiliently deformable metal material and that each includes an attachment plate portion and a joining plate portion. The attachment plate portion is disposed along and is attached to a side wall portion of one of the pair of side frames, and the joining plate portion projects from an edge of the attachment plate portion toward the projection and is integrally joined to the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi Munechika
  • Patent number: 10011201
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat which has a simple structure, prevents the lower back region of an occupant from sinking into the seat back, induces backward rotation of the entire upper body when a rear-end collision occurs, and reduces the degree to which the neck region of the occupant independently tilts backward, and is therefore able to effectively reduce the load on the neck region and so on of the occupant. A vehicle seat is provided with a neck-burden reduction element that, during a rear-end collision, causes a greater amount of backward movement of a connection point between the neck region and a torso region of the occupant than the amount of backward movement of a lower torso region of the occupant, and causes an upper torso region of the occupant to sink into the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Nitsuma, Masaya Furuta
  • Patent number: 9896005
    Abstract: A seat back pad 70 has a groove 73 for tucking a skin material therein, formed at borders between a central portion 71 and side portions 72. A hole (slot hole 74) is formed in a bottom of the groove 73 along the groove 73. A tuck-in wire 76 for tucking the skin material in includes a plurality of tuck-in portions 76A provided along the groove 73, and a connecting portion (detour portion 76B) detouring around the hole and connecting the tuck-in portions 76A. With this configuration, when an upper body of an occupant P subsides into a seat back S2 in a rear-end collision of a vehicle, the central portion 71, defined by the groove 73 as a border, is easily and sufficiently moved rearward relative to the left and right side portions 72. Furthermore, the tuck-in wire 76 is not exposed through the hole, and thus adhesion between the seat back pad 70 and the tuck-in wire 76 can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takamasa Adachi, Tsutomu Matsuzaki, Masayuki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9835233
    Abstract: A gearbox for actuating at least one component of a vehicle seat. The gearbox includes a housing. An input pulley and an output pulley are rotatably coupled to the housing. A sun gear is attached to one of the pulleys. A ring gear is coupled to the housing and disposed about the sun gear. A plurality of planetary gears are attached to the other of the pulleys and are operably engaged with the sun gear and the ring gear. An input cable is coupled to the input pulley to rotate the input pulley in a first direction. An output cable is coupled to the output pulley and moves in a first direction in response to rotation of the input pulley. A biasing member is operatively connected to the output pulley to rotate the output pulley in a second direction opposite of the first direction to move the input cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: KONGSBERG INTERIOR SYSTEMS II, INC.
    Inventors: Sean Dunn, Ashley Fritz, Kelly Harvester
  • Patent number: 9835479
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a load sensor for measuring a load applied from an occupant and a seat cushion frame, wherein the seat cushion frame comprises right and left side frames extending in a front-and-rear direction, the load sensor is attached to the seat cushion frame, and a concave portion is formed in at least one of the right and left side frames at a position opposite to the load sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Endo, Kenji Sato