For Absorbing Rear-impact Force Patents (Class 297/216.14)
  • Patent number: 11607976
    Abstract: A recliner mechanism includes a housing plate and a recliner heart. The housing plate includes a plate body. The recliner heart is mounted to the housing plate and operable in an unlocked state permitting relative rotation between a seat back and a seat bottom, and a locked state preventing relative rotation between the seatback and the seat bottom. The housing plate includes a fore end proximate a front of the seat bottom and an aft end opposing the fore end and proximate a rear end of the seat bottom. The plate body includes a protrusion extending outwardly therefrom at or near the aft end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Fisher & Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: Ralph L. Schmitz, Sapan M. Poptani, Christopher J. Ryan
  • Patent number: 11420542
    Abstract: An impact absorbing device for a vehicle seat includes: a first base member; a second base member; and an impact absorbing member. The first base member rotatably supports the second base member. The impact absorbing member includes: a first fixing portion fixed to the first base member; a second fixing portion fixed to the second base member; and a deformable portion. The deformable portion is provided between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion, and is configured to be bent by the rotation of the second base member. A distance between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion in an undeformed state of the deformable portion has a value intermediate in a range of variation of the distance that varies depending on the bending of the deformable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Toda
  • Patent number: 11007913
    Abstract: Vehicle seat fixed to the floor of a cabin of a vehicle and which is able to absorb the impact of a passenger seated behind. It comprises at least two uprights (20) per backrest, these being positioned substantially vertically and engaged via a lower end (30) in the fixed framework (32) of the seat in such a way as to be releasable through upward translational movement so that they can disengage upward under the effect of an impact on a rear face, and are mounted with the ability to rotate about at least one fixed axis of the fixed framework (32) so as to be able to pivot forwards after becoming disengaged. At least one deliberate mechanical weak link positioned between each upright (20) and the framework (32) blocks the translational movement of the upright below a determined force corresponding to the impact. Application to aircraft seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: EXPLISEAT
    Inventors: Benjamin Jacob Saada, Nicolas Saillard, Thibault Hermil, Christophe Jacob, Vincent Tejedor
  • Patent number: 10889215
    Abstract: A mat attachment structure of a seatback includes: a guide wire attached to the mat and provided, at the distal end part, with a straight portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the seatback frame on a tip side of the seatback frame or its root side; and a through-hole formed in the seatback frame and through which the straight portion is insertable. The through-hole is provided with a protruding part which includes a high protruding portion and a low protruding portion formed adjacent to the high protruding portion. In a first movement of the mat, the straight portion moves in a de-insertion direction while coming into contact with the high protruding portion. As the amount of movement of the mat gets larger than the amount of movement of the first movement, a contact position between the straight portion and the protruding part moves toward the low protruding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignees: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Mizukoshi, Masaki Shimazu, Taiji Misono, Hiroyuki Yasui, Motohiko Ozawa
  • Patent number: 10857921
    Abstract: A mat attachment structure of a seatback includes: a guide wire attached to the mat and provided with a width-direction extending part extending in s width direction of the seatback frame on a tip or root side of the seatback frame; and a holder having a base part which holds the width-direction extending part so as to be rotatable around an axis of the width-direction extending part and an attachment part attached to the seatback frame. When a force exceeding a predetermined value in a direction to separate from the seatback frame is applied from the width-direction extending part to the holder, the force being due to the force from the back of the occupant that the mat receives, the width-direction extending part departs from the base part or the holder departs from the seatback frame, so that the width-direction extending part is separated from the seatback frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignees: Adient Engineering and IP GmbH, Honda Motor Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Mizukoshi, Masaki Shimazu, Taiji Misono, Hiroyuki Yasui, Motohiko Ozawa
  • Patent number: 10518671
    Abstract: A car seat may include a seat shell configured for supporting a child thereon, a base supporting the seat shell, and a support frame positioned at least partially within the seat shell and/or the base and configured to manage energy during a crash event. The support frame may include a first frame portion and a second frame portion attached to the first frame portion. The first frame portion may include a first side support and a second side support spaced apart from one another, and the second frame portion may include a first side support and a second side support spaced apart from one another. A stiffness of each of the first side support and the second side support of the second frame portion may be different than a stiffness of each of the first side support and the second side support of the first frame portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Jake Mitchell, Daniel Brunick, Nicholas Lombardi, William Conway
  • Patent number: 10449921
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back, and an airbag that deploys in the seat back. After having deployed, the airbag has such a shape that a deployment amount, in a front-back direction, of the airbag near an upper part of the seat back differs from that near a lower part of the seat back. The airbag deploys in the seat back in such a way that, after having deployed, the airbag elastically supports an upper body of an occupant and elastically receives an impact force applied to a back surface of the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 10427563
    Abstract: A seat assembly having a seat bottom, a seat back, and at least one belt. The belt may have a first end that may be coupled to a seat bottom frame and a second end that may be coupled to a seat back frame. The belt may limit pivotal movement of the seat back away from the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Wissam Dhaini
  • Patent number: 10195969
    Abstract: A vehicle seat back includes a seat back frame. An impact pad is supported on the seat back frame. The impact pad includes a pad body that is located on a rear side of the seat back frame. The impact pad includes a frame contact surface that matches a contour of the seat back frame. The vehicle seat back also includes one of more spaces located between the pad body and the seat back frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Veine, Ashford Galbreath, Thomas Hicks
  • Patent number: 10150391
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including a controller configured to, in a case where an excessive external load in a front and rear direction, by which a first back frame part is configured to be pressed and bent toward a second back frame part, is applied to the first back frame part, adjust an inclination angle of each back frame part by driving and controlling a reclining adjuster so that the first back frame part can be pressed against the second back frame part by being bent due to the excessive external load, the first back frame part being one of a front back frame part and a rear back frame part of a seat back, and the second back frame part being another of the front back frame part and the rear back frame part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumitoshi Akaike, Koji Kaneda
  • Patent number: 9586508
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle seat including: a seatback frame that includes a plate-shaped back face panel portion; a headrest; a seatback pad that is provided at a front face side of the seatback frame, with a space formed between the seatback pad and the back face panel portion; a back spring that is formed from wire and includes left and right side portions extending in an up-down direction of the seatback, at both seat width direction sides inside the space, and includes a lower portion coupling together lower end portions of the left and right side portions in the seat width direction, wherein the left and right side portions are supported so as to be capable of undergoing displacement toward a seat width direction outer side with respect to the seatback frame, and support the seatback pad from a seat rear side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenzo Yasuda, Hiroshi Kushiku
  • Patent number: 9346385
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seating surface. A plurality of polymeric mats each include a memory metal encased therein, a first side operably coupled with an underlying support structure, and a second side proximate the seating surface. An electrical source is operably coupled to the memory metal in each polymeric mat and is configured to supply energy to the plurality of memory metals in each polymeric mat. A controller is in communication with the plurality of polymeric mats and is configured to deliver a predetermined electrical input to the memory metal of each polymeric mat. The predetermined electrical input manipulates each polymeric mat to a deformed state, which operates a cushion between a multitude of comfort positions. An air bladder is disposed below the plurality of polymeric mats. The air bladder is operable between an inflated condition and a deflated condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Sachs, Johnathan Andrew Line
  • Patent number: 9333882
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a lower seatback. An upper seatback is operably coupled to the lower seatback. The upper seatback is pivotally mounted to the lower seatback at a pivot axis. A manual articulation assembly operably couples the lower seatback with the upper seatback. The manual articulation assembly includes a housing member having a cam channel and an inner wall with a plurality of engagement recesses. A positional cam includes a cam pin engaged with the cam channel and an outer wall with a plurality of engagement teeth in removable engagement with the plurality of engagement recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Christian J. Hosbach, Brian John Roorda, Brandon W. Nichols, Mandeep Singh Sidhu
  • Patent number: 9216668
    Abstract: A vehicle seat fitting includes a relatively rotatable first fitting part, with toothed ring, and second fitting parts, with guide segments. Catches are guided between locked and unlocked states by the guide segments and interact with the toothed ring to lock the fitting. A spring-loaded rotatable eccentric acts such that the catches interact with the toothed ring. A rotatably supported driver rotates the eccentric. An indicator is connected to the driver or to a fastening ring fastened to the driver. An adapter is connected to an operating lever and is supported on the driver or on the fastening ring. A sensor, fastened to the adapter, is connected to the fitting, detects a position change of the indicator and provides an electrical output signal. The adapter is returned to an initial position by a restoring spring regardless of the locking state of the fitting if the operating lever is not actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ingo Teufel, Peter Reimer, Uwe Assmann, Christoph Peters
  • Patent number: 9168856
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid seat frame for a vehicle and provides a hybrid seat frame for a vehicle including a main frame formed of glass fiber and a reinforced frame formed of carbon fiber to secure stiffness in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and torsional stiffness and to reduce its weight, thereby improving fuel efficiency of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: LOTTE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyo Min Lee, Jong Wook Lee, Choul Won So
  • Publication number: 20150123435
    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: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Takamasa ADACHI, Tsutomu MATSUZAKI, Masayuki YAMAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 9010854
    Abstract: A seat cushion frame structure of a seat for a vehicle has an oblique monolithic strip on at least one of a pair of side frames an upper end of which is fixed to a side portion of the at least one of pair of side frames and a lower end of which is fixed to the seat cushion frame structure at a position forward of the upper end. The oblique monolithic strip is arranged in such a way that one of its strip surfaces opposed to each other is oriented to be upward, its cross section perpendicular to the opposed strip surfaces is a rectangle long in a lateral direction and includes at each of its upper and lower ends a wound portion which is wound in a loop manner in such a way that the one of said opposed strip surfaces is oriented to be inward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Nonomiya, Hiroshi Kushiku
  • Publication number: 20150091346
    Abstract: A seat frame of a conveyance seat includes: a cushion frame that has cushion side frames disposed on left and right sides; a back frame that has back side frames disposed on left and right sides; recliners that serve as rotary joints, each cushion side frame and the corresponding back side frame being coupled via the corresponding recliner; and recliner plates, each recliner and the corresponding cushion side frame being coupled via the corresponding recliner plate. Each recliner plate has a bent portion at which the recliner plate is bent such that a lower portion of the recliner plate under the recliner is offset in a width direction of the seat frame relative to another portion of the recliner plate, and a reinforcing portion that enhances a strength of the lower portion in an up-down direction of the seat frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicants: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidekazu KITOU
  • Publication number: 20150091347
    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: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Kenichi Nitsuma, Masaya Furuta
  • Publication number: 20150091345
    Abstract: Vehicle seat (1), with a seat part (2) and a backrest (3), which comprises a lumbar support (7), wherein the lumbar support (7) has a lumbar apex (7.1) towards the back of a seat occupant and tapers from there and that the lumbar support comprises a suspension 9, 11, 12) that results in load distribution with a primery load uptake (8. 1) at the lumbar apex (7.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Kurt Seibold, Alexander I. Balin, Ingo Kienke, Jorg Linnenbrink
  • Patent number: 8985695
    Abstract: A backrest is provided, whereby a frame-shaped base structure of which is made of a dimensionally stable plastic, The base structure being formed from beams. The frame-shaped base structure includes at least one functional element between the beams, and the at least one functional element is made only of a plastic and/or as a plastic-coated insert. Injection molding is proposed as a production method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sitech Sitztechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Baumgarten
  • Patent number: 8979193
    Abstract: A seat back frame structure of a seat for a vehicle has a seat back frame structure, a lower end of which is connected to a rear end of a seat cushion frame structure in such a way that the seat back frame structure can be inclined relative to the seat cushion frame structure, the seat back frame structure includes a pair of side frames, each of which extends in a vertical direction of the vehicle, and an oblique wire on at least one of the pair of side frames, an upper end of which is fixed to a side portion of the at least one of the pair of side frames and a lower end of which is fixed to the seat back frame structure at a position forward of a rotational center of the seat back frame structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Nonomiya
  • Patent number: 8967713
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprising a pair of side frames configuring a portion of a seatback frame serving as framework for a seatback; a deformation origin portion provided to at least one of the pair of side frames and acting as an origin when the side frame deforms due to a collision force imparted to the seatback frame during a rear-on collision; and a deformation suppression unit provided to the side frame provided with the deformation origin portion, permitting deformation of the side frame originating at the deformation origin portion and suppressing deformation of the side frame by a reference amount or greater by the deformation suppression unit making contact with a contacted member provided to the seatback frame when the deformation amount of the side frame has reached the reference amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Izumida, Atsushi Kageyama
  • Patent number: 8967663
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat capable of efficiently absorbing impact energy generated upon a rear end collision in a manner such that the vehicle seat is stably deformed at a specific position with respect to a complex input load generated upon a rear end collision. A vehicle seat includes: frame side portions that are located at the right and left sides of a seat back frame and extend in the up to down direction; and frame extension portions that extend from the frame side portions toward the inside in the right and left direction. A connection portion that connects the frame side portions to the frame extension portions is provided with a deformation portion that is deformed when an impact load is applied thereto. The deformation portion is formed adjacent to other deformation portions having deformation characteristics different from that of the deformation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Seki, Takaya Kurisu, Kenichi Niitsuma
  • Patent number: 8955906
    Abstract: A bracket is used to couple together a seating frame member and a back frame member of a seat of a vehicle. The bracket comprises a periphery and a central longitudinal axis dividing the bracket into a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion of the bracket defines a yield segment for plastically deforming when a force above a predetermined value is applied to the back frame member. Plastically deforming the yield segment reduces an impact force transferred from the seat to an occupant. The periphery of the rear portion of the bracket includes a first contact surface and a second contact surface spaced from the first contact surface. The first contact surface moves into contact with the second contact surface as the yield segment plastically deforms thereby restricting the plastic deformation of the yield segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventor: Jonathan Evans
  • Patent number: 8955907
    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: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takamasa Adachi, Tsutomu Matsuzaki, Masayuki Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20150042133
    Abstract: Load imparted to a seat back frame is stably absorbed and efficiently absorbed. In a vehicle seat 10, a weak portion 48 is formed by a fixing plate (50). The weak portion (48) continuously extends from an edge portion of a fixing hole (44) in the relative movement direction with respect to a hinge base bracket (40) of a fastening bolt. Thus the weak portion (48) presses against the fastening bolt when the hinge base bracket (40) rotationally moves about the axial line of a support hole (42). Moreover, when the weak portion (48) plastically deforms, deformation so as to press the weak portion (48) wider is suppressed, such that the weak portion (48) is deformed so as to be squashed. Consequently, load imparted to a seatback frame (64) can be stably absorbed by the weak portion (48).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nozomu Munemura, Hironobu Nakane, Ryo Nagahara, Kensuke Nagai
  • Publication number: 20150042134
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat including a seat cushion and a seat back, the seat back includes: a seat back frame F2 comprising right and left side frames 20 constituting right and left frames of the seat back; a pressure-receiving portion 41 located between the right and left side frames 20 at a rear of an occupant and configured to be movable rearward relative to the right and left side frames 20; and support portions 42 extending laterally outward from right and left end portions of the pressure-receiving portion 41 and configured to support side portions of an upper body of the occupant in the seat back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Shuichi Shimizu, Yuichiro Seki, Shinji Sugiyama, Kazunori Ishihara
  • Patent number: 8936311
    Abstract: Headrests for motor vehicle seats. The headrests may include a fixed part, a moving part movable with respect to the fixed part from a rest position to an active position, with connection means connecting the fixed part and the moving part to determine the path and the position of the moving part. A drive device drives and moves the moving part with respect to the fixed part in the event of a crash. Movement of at least one portion of the moving part to a forward position with respect to the active position may be provided by a damping assembly. The damping assembly may also allow the backward movement to the active position after an impact of the user's head on the moving part, absorbing energy in the backward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Batz S.Coop
    Inventors: Pedro Corral Rodriguez, Joseba Palacio Argüelles
  • Patent number: 8911014
    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 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Nitsuma, Masaya Furuta
  • Patent number: 8894144
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly having a seatback frame, an upper armature that is movable relative to the seatback frame and a head restraint mounted on the upper armature. A linkage assembly operatively interconnects the upper armature and an impact body such that movement of the impact body relative to the seatback frame acts on the linkage assembly to move the upper armature relative to the seatback frame to cause the head restraint to move toward the occupant. The linkage assembly includes a linkage and a coupler movably connected to the linkage. The coupler includes a first member movably connected to the seatback frame and a second member movably connected to the first member at a location below the upper end of the impact body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Mladen Humer, Nagarjun Yetukuri, Gerald Locke, Dale Smallwood
  • Patent number: 8888178
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle seat including reclining devices which are provided at both left and right side portions of a seat back, respectively, and having operation shafts connected to each other by a rod such that the operations shafts of the respective reclining devices rotate in synchronization with each other to release a locking state thereof, and a deformation member which is supported by a framework of the seat back and is configured to be deformed to move forward by collision of an object from a rear side due to a vehicle collision. The deformation member is engaged to the rod by the deformation movement to restrain a rotational movement of the rod in an unlocking direction of the reclining devices with a support of a framework strength of the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoaki Tanabe, Atsushi Suzuki, Yuuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8864227
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for absorbing energy in a motor vehicle seat in the case of a collision etc., and to an energy-absorption device for implementing said method. The method comprises the step of providing a removable deformation element in or at the vehicle seat, preferably in a space thereto provided in the fitting provided for inclining the backrest of the vehicle seat. The energy-absorption device implemented as the deformation element comprises at least one deformation portion which is deformable in a collision, thus absorbing energy. The invention is also directed to a fitting for inclining the backrest, the fitting having a space for mounting the deformation element. The invention is in especially provided to avoid in particular damages to the nape of the neck in the case of collisions from the rear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: RECARO Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Funke, Jan Martens
  • Patent number: 8864228
    Abstract: A vehicle seat capable, with a simple, lightweight structure, of improving a whiplash moderation effect from a head rest. In the vehicle seat (10), when there is an impact at a rear face of the vehicle, a support frame (50) that is fixed to a reclining rod (46) separately from a seatback frame (32) supports the waist area of a seat occupant from the vehicle rearward side. Thus, a load from the seat occupant that is inputted to the seatback frame (32) is reduced. Therefore, a displacement amount (deformation amount) of the seatback frame (32) to the vehicle rearward side may be suppressed. Thus, a duration until the head area of the seat occupant abuts against a headrest (16) may be shortened. Moreover, the support frame (32) that only supports the waist area of the seat occupant need only be fixed to the reclining rod (46). Therefore, a simple, lightweight structure may be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Ishizaki, Manabu Ishimoto
  • Patent number: 8840179
    Abstract: A seat assembly for use with a vehicle includes a seat back that is mountable in the vehicle such that the seat is pivotable between a use position and a folded position. Furthermore, the seat back includes an engaging member. The seat assembly also includes a hinge assembly associated with the seat back. The hinge assembly includes a bracket that is attachable to the vehicle, a pivot member pivotally attached to the bracket, and a blocking member pivotally attached to the bracket. When a sufficient forward force is applied to the seat back, the pivot member pivots in a first direction about a first axis, which causes the blocking member to pivot in a second direction different than the first direction about a second axis and engage the engaging member, thereby blocking pivotal movement of the seat back. In this embodiment, the second axis is located forward of the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Stanislaw Andrzej Wieclawski
  • Patent number: 8840178
    Abstract: A seatback for a vehicle seat, the seatback including: a frame to which a pad is mounted, the frame including, a pair of side frames extending along respective side parts of the seatback, and an extension bar extending between the side frames; and a cover that is rotatably attached to the extension bar along an outer surface of the extension bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Mitsuoka, Kazuhiro Tawada
  • Publication number: 20140265474
    Abstract: A recliner assembly for a vehicle seat, and the associated seat, is provided with seat back, a seat base, and a hinge that connects the seat back to the seat base, wherein the hinge includes a recliner assembly having a pair of recliner mechanisms that are disposed on opposite sides of the seat, and which may be shifted between the locked position and an unlocked position by manually pivoting a connector rod that operatively joins each of the recliner mechanisms. The connector rod is operably, but not directly, connected to at least one of the recliner mechanisms through engagement with a hub at a location on the inboard side of the recliner mechanism, which hub is, in turn, engaged with the recliner mechanism. The connector rod may also be indirectly connected to the other of the recliner mechanisms in a like manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Peter R. MCCULLOCH
  • Patent number: 8833851
    Abstract: A headrest. In one implementation the headrest includes a moving part that is rotationally coupled to a fixed part between a rest position and an active position. A connection assembly connects the moving part to the fixed part. An articulation assembly is operably coupled to and between the fixed part and the moving and has a first configuration when the moving part is in the rest position and a second configuration when the moving part is in the active position. The headrest includes a drive device that is moveable between first and second positions. In the first position the drive device is decoupled from the articulation assembly so that the articulation assembly assumes the first configuration, when in the second position the drive device acts upon articulation assembly to cause the articulation assembly to assume the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventors: Pedro Corral Rodriguez, Joseba Palacio Argüelles
  • Patent number: 8820831
    Abstract: A passenger restraint system for a vehicle is disclosed. Embodiments provide an automatic release mechanism to automatically lift a restraint bar in the event of a rear-end collision, thereby reducing the risk of occupants getting rammed by the safety bar due to seat deflection from the seat in front of the occupant. A linkage is connected between the seat and an interior surface of the vehicle, such as wall or floor. During a rear-end collision, occupants are pushed back into their seats, and depending on the force of the impact, the seats will deflect rearward. The linkage is coupled to a lifting mechanism, such that when the seat back deflects during a collision, tension in the linkage operates to lift the restraint bar, thereby reducing the risk of injury for occupants sitting in the seat behind the restraining bar, such as in a school bus, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Gerald Amabile
  • Patent number: 8777309
    Abstract: A lumbar support for a vehicle backrest has a rest member with a front surface shaped to support an area of a user's back, and an elastic member behind the rest member; the elastic member has an intermediate portion fixed to the rest member and two opposite ends fixed connected to a backrest frame, maintains the rest member in a rest position and can deform in response to a thrust of the user's back so as to let the rest member move between the rest position and a first position under normal conditions, and then abruptly towards a second position when a thrust of a user's back exceeds a given force value; the force/displacement curve of the elastic member has a slope which is between zero and a given threshold in the section between the first and the second positions, the threshold being equal to 0.5 [N/mm].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Salvatore Demontis, Gianluca Puleo, Fabio Lopez, Giorgio Masoero
  • Patent number: 8777308
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing neck injury for use in a vehicle seat, which is connected between a recliner base installed on a back frame and a plate base on which a seat cushion is provided, may include a front connection link that is hinged to a front part of the recliner base at an upper end thereof and to a front part of the plate base at a lower end thereof; and a rear connection link that is hinged to a rear part of the recliner base at an upper end thereof and to a rear part of the plate base at a lower end thereof, wherein the front connection link is pivoted at a greater angle than the rear connection link such that the back frame moves in a forward direction in the event of a vehicle rear-end collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp., Das Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Ki Lee, Sang Seok Seong
  • Patent number: 8757714
    Abstract: A lock for locking an object in a vehicle in place comprises a base comprising a side surface and a front surface. The side surface has at least one opening, and the front surface has a ballast retainer and a hub mounting portion. A hub is rotatably coupled to the hub mounting portion. A ballast, which is operatively coupled to the hub, is housed within the ballast retainer. At least one locking member is also operatively coupled to the hub. The ballast is configured to automatically reposition itself within the ballast retainer from an initial unlocked position to a final locked position in response to a change in velocity of the vehicle. This repositioning of the ballast actuates the hub, and causes the at least one locking member to extend past the at least one opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Ward, Thang Chien Phi, Prasannakumar Bhonge
  • Patent number: 8727438
    Abstract: A seat back frame and associated vehicle seat are provided for effectively reducing an input load applied onto a reclining mechanism at the time of rear surface collision, the frame and seat having an energy absorbing member fixed to a coupling portion of a lower frame for coupling left and right side frames on the lower side. Since the energy absorbing member is plastically deformable by pressing from the backrest front surface side, the energy absorbing member absorbs shock energy at the time of the rear surface collision to reduce an input load imposed onto a reclining mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Nitsuma
  • Patent number: 8714641
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle seat including: a seatback including a seatback frame skeleton member covered by a seatback pad cushion member on at least a front side of the seatback frame; a headrest including a headrest frame skeleton member disposed above the seatback; and a shock absorbing member disposed further to the front side than the headrest frame and being at a top portion of the seatback, attached to the seatback frame and absorbing impact energy by plastic deformation when an impact is imparted to the top portion of the seatback from the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Cyoukyu, Tomoyuki Nagano
  • Patent number: 8708409
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided that includes a seat back frame, a headrest, a pressure receiving member that moves independently from the headrest, and pivoting members that are disposed in at least one of both side portions of the seat back frame, are linked to the pressure receiving member, and move independently from the headrest under a predetermined impact load. The pivoting members are linked via coupling members to a biasing element that biases the pressure receiving member toward the front of the seat back frame. The force that restores the pivoting members into an initial state is greatest during normal seating, and covers a range in which the force decreases when the pivoting members move due to a rear-end collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Nitsuma
  • Patent number: 8696061
    Abstract: A vehicle seat which comprises a back frame (10) provided inside a seat back (3) to support a headrest (4). The back frame (10) includes right and left side frames (12, 12), and a plurality of support spring members (20B, 20C) having opposite right and left ends (20b, 20c) locked between the right and left side frames (12, 12) and extending in a right-left direction to support a lumber region of an occupant. Each of the support spring members (20B, 20C) is shaped such that a central region thereof protrudes frontwardly relative to the right and left ends thereof in an approximately flat state. Thus, the central region of the support spring unit is largely bent (depressed) rearwardly when a rearward load is applied thereto during a rear impact event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Kasama, Ryota Okimoto
  • Patent number: 8690255
    Abstract: A seat back frame for a seat of a vehicle includes: a pair of side frames placed at a left side and a right side in a width direction of a seat; a head rest supporting frame supporting a head rest; a supporting plate, a both ends of the supporting plate being connected to a lower portion of each of the side frames; an upper opening provided above the supporting plate, the upper opening being opened in a front-rear direction; a planar elastic body provided across the upper opening; and a connection member elastically connecting a lower portion of the planar elastic body and an upper portion of the supporting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jogen Yamaki, Harutomi Nishide, Yoshitomo Oka, Kenichi Saito, Yozo Furuta, Hisato Oku, Hiroshi Abe, Munetoshi Nishihara
  • Patent number: 8668263
    Abstract: The vehicle seat includes a collision sensor provided to a seat back frame and being movable relatively backward by a rear-end collision, a headrest attached to the seat back frame and being movable between a normal support position and a head protection position anterior to the normal support position. The headrest is movable from the normal support position to the head protection position when the collision sensor is moved backward. The vehicle seat has a lock mechanism attached to the seat back frame. The lock mechanism is moved to a lock position by inertia when receiving an external force by a rear-end collision to regulate a return of the headrest from the head protection position to the normal support position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Takayasu, Kenichi Niitsuma
  • Publication number: 20140042785
    Abstract: A vehicle seat device includes: a seat back; an attached member pivotally supported by the seat back and configured to be turnable between a retracted position at which the attached member is housed in a housing recessed portion formed to penetrate a cushion pad of the seat back and a protruding position at which the attached member protrudes toward a front side of the seat back; and an inner board closing a rear opening face of the housing recessed portion. In the vehicle seat device, a locking claw bent forward is provided in an upper end portion of the inner board, and a stopper member configured to suppress frontward and downward movement of the locking claw by engaging with the locking claw is provided in a frame of the seat back. Such vehicle seat device is capable of restricting excessive forward movement and deformation of the inner board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicants: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi SATO, Hisato OKU, Hiroki IKEDA
  • Patent number: 8616634
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a mechanism for moving a headrest upon rear-end collision, comprising: a pressure receiving member for receiving a load of a rearward movement of an occupant; a transmitting element for transmitting the load received by the pressure receiving member to a headrest side; right and left headrest supporting members for supporting right and left pillars of the headrest; and a biasing member that biases the headrest; wherein the biasing member is disposed between the right and left pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanari Yasuda, Kenichi Nitsuma, Takamasa Adachi