Force-absorbing Means Incorporated Into Back Patents (Class 297/216.13)
  • Patent number: 9731632
    Abstract: A seat assembly having a seat back pivotally disposed on a seat bottom. The seat assembly may include an actuator member that may be configured to rotate about a first axis and a cam member that may be configured to rotate about a second axis that may be spaced apart from the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Vikrant Kajale, Kishore Tarade
  • Patent number: 9604594
    Abstract: A method is provided for operation of a safety arrangement in a vehicle. The safety arrangement comprises a seat belt, a seat belt retractor and at least one seat position adjustment arrangement for position adjustment of a seat of the vehicle and/or a portion of the seat. The method comprises a refraction of the seat belt by means of the seat belt retractor with a retraction force, and a pre-crash displacement of the seat and/or the portion of the seat resulting in a displacement force acting on the seat belt. The method further comprises adapting the pre-crash displacement and the refraction of the seat belt to each other by ascertaining that a combined seat belt force comprising the refraction force and the displacement force does not exceed a selectable level. The disclosure further relates to a safety arrangement for a vehicle and a vehicle comprising such a safety arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Harda, Anders Axelson, II, Stefan Berge, Par Nilsson
  • Patent number: 9597989
    Abstract: A conveyance seat includes a seat frame, and a rod that extends to a region on a seat inside, and that is connected to the seat frame. The rod is connected to the seat frame via a shaft member. The shaft member includes a tubular portion having a through-hole, and a protruding portion protruding toward an outside in a radial direction from one end of the tubular portion in an axial direction. The shaft member is assembled to the seat frame in a state in which the tubular portion is inserted through the seat frame from a seat outside, and an insertion position of the shaft member in the axial direction is restricted by a position where the protruding portion abuts against an outside surface of the seat frame. The rod is inserted in the axial direction through the through-hole in the shaft member, and assembled to the shaft member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Hattori, Hayato Matsui
  • Patent number: 9545864
    Abstract: A conveyance seat includes a seat frame, and a rod that extends to a region on a seat inside, and that is connected to the seat frame. The rod is connected to the seat frame via a shaft member. The shaft member includes a tubular portion having a through-hole, and a protruding portion protruding toward an outside in a radial direction from one end of the tubular portion in an axial direction. The shaft member is assembled to the seat frame in a state in which the tubular portion is inserted through the seat frame from a seat outside, and an insertion position of the shaft member in the axial direction is restricted by a position where the protruding portion abuts against an outside surface of the seat frame. The rod is inserted in the axial direction through the through-hole in the shaft member, and assembled to the shaft member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Hattori, Hayato Matsui
  • Patent number: 9387783
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nozomu Munemura, Hironobu Nakane, Ryo Nagahara, Kensuke Nagai
  • Patent number: 9376039
    Abstract: A seat back frame assembly and seat assembly are provided. The seat back frame assembly includes a pair of side members spaced apart from each other, a top member spaced apart from a bottom member, each of the top and bottom members interconnecting each of the pair of side members so as to define a peripheral edge, the peripheral edge enclosing a back space. An interference member is disposed within the back space and spaced apart from an inner surface of one of the pair of side members. The interference member disposed above a midpoint of the one of the pair of side members and includes a sliding surface angled obtusely with respect to the back space so as to direct an occupant forward of the back space and away from the side member when experiencing a side load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Hazlewood, Patrick J. Edgar, Yi-Ru Chen Sosnowski, Leon Toma, Phouvadol Peter Khouphongsy, Chad Anderson, Jonathan Y. San
  • Patent number: 9340135
    Abstract: A seat back frame for use in a vehicle seat assembly including a first side member, a second side member, an upper cross member, and a lower cross member. The seat back frame also includes a load transfer member that transfers impact loads from a collision through the seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Daniel James Sakkinen, Nicholas Leonard Petouhoff, Antoine A. Kmeid, Todd W. Waelde, Eric B. Michalak, Joseph F. Prosniewski, Alexander I. Balin, Ornela Zekavica, Phillip Wayne Wilson, Alexander Saveski
  • Patent number: 9174557
    Abstract: An S-spring 14 is provided in a state of tension between a pair of seat back frames 10 constituting a vehicle seat 1. A support section 16a of a bracket 16 fixed to the seat back frame 10 supports a part of an end of the S-spring 14 from behind. The support section 16a is formed with a length equal to or greater than one pitch of the S-spring 14 in a no-load state and discontinuously supports center portions ? of the S-spring 14. When a load equal to or greater than a predetermined level acts on the S-spring 14, the S-spring 14 is stretched to cause the center portions ? to be dislocated from the support sections 16a, and as a result, the length of a deflectable portion of the S-spring 14 is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Enoki, Masahide Sawada
  • Patent number: 9061613
    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: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takamasa Adachi, Tsutomu Matsuzaki, Masayuki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9039094
    Abstract: A seat back frame includes: a first side member and a second side member each formed into an elongated shape along an up-and-down direction of a seat back so as to support each side portion of the seat back; and a belt guide portion on which tension of a seat belt is applied when the seat belt is pulled, the belt guide portion being formed in an upper portion of the first side member and guiding the seat belt having the one end retained by a seat belt retaining member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 9039093
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a vehicle seat having a frame member and a reinforcing member for reinforcing the frame member. The frame member has an elongated portion. The elongated portion is formed of resin and preferably has a flat-plate-like or bar-like configuration. The elongated portion includes a first portion, a front second portion and a rear second portion. The first portion may be arranged in a longitudinal manner with respect to the vehicle seat and extends vertically. The front second portion extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle seat from a front end of the first portion. The rear second portion extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle seat from a rear end of the first portion. The elongated portion is configured so that a neutral axis is positioned between the front and rear second portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Nishiura, Tatsuya Karaki
  • Publication number: 20150123434
    Abstract: A load transfer structure includes a seatback frame, and a load receiving member disposed on the seatback frame to contact with a side wall of a vehicle body when the side wall is moved toward a vehicle cabin by a side impact. The load receiving member includes a horizontal portion extending laterally, an inclined portion extended obliquely outward and upward from an outer end of the horizontal portion, and a curved portion provided between the horizontal portion and the inclined portion and having inner and outer concave edges. A bisector of an angle between straight edges continued from both ends of the outer concave edge and a bisector of an angle between straight edges continued from both ends of the inner concave edge intersect with each other in the curved portion. Accordingly, an absorbed energy amount by the load receiving member increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taiji Ikeda, Tatsuzo Tomita, Masato Sakurai, Toshiya Sagara
  • Publication number: 20150126916
    Abstract: A method for selecting and controlling massage functions of a motor vehicle seat having a control system comprising the steps of: switching the system to a selection mode and starting the selection mode; providing a menu list having options for querying the user's requirements during the massage; selection of an option by the user and providing predefined responses to the respective query and selection of the response by the user and if necessary repeating the steps for further queries; and terminating the selection mode and automatically determining suitable massage settings on the basis of the user's selection and controlling the massage actuators in the motor vehicle seat on the basis of determined massage settings to perform the massage function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Amber LaVerne Hall, Michael Kolich, Keith Allen Godin, Johnathan Andrew Line
  • Publication number: 20150118426
    Abstract: An in-situ molded foam core structural plastic article having an outer shell with an interior cavity filled with expandable polymer beads which when expanded substantially fill the interior cavity forming a thermal bond with the shell. The bead and shell are of a similar plastic composition enabling the articles to be reground and recycled. Various articles are disclosed including structural panels, and automotive seat, load floor, interior panel, bumper and running board components. An apparatus for forming the articles and an associated method of manufacture are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Richard W. ROBERTS
  • Patent number: 9010855
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle seat including: a seatback frame that includes a pair of an outer side frame portion and an inner side frame portion and a lower frame portion; a tilting shaft that supports the seatback frame at a position below the lower frame portion; and a first load transfer block that transfers an impact load input from a side portion of the vehicle body to the seatback frame, wherein the vehicle seat further includes a plate-shaped rigid member of which an upper end is connected to the lower frame portion and an inner end in the vehicle width direction is connected to the inner side frame portion in the vehicle width direction, and wherein a lower edge of the plate-shaped rigid member extends to at least a height position of the tilting shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jogen Yamaki, Hisato Oku, Yozo Furuta, Hiroyuki Kaku
  • Patent number: 9010865
    Abstract: A restraint system for a removable vehicle seat is attached to the vehicle seat. A restraint tower associated with the restraint system transfers energy generated during vehicle impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Valasin, Radesh Vangipuram, Richard Squires, Philip Skinner, Joseph Talamonti
  • Patent number: 8998316
    Abstract: An improved seating system that includes a blow molded seat back assembly that is fabricated to include a seat back comprising a double walled design having a foreword (14) and a rearward (16) wall wherein there is at least one or more sections comprising a single wall (213). Further, the blow molded seat back may include an integrated reinforcement structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Styron Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Padraig J. Naughton, Ashishkumar S. Lokhande, Gulub N. Malunjkar
  • Patent number: 8991735
    Abstract: A length direction base end side of a wire passes through a retaining spring mounting hole formed in a case, and is anchored to an anchor tag that is indirectly retained by a pulley. A spring is provided in the retaining spring mounting hole, and a base end of a tube is retained to the spring through a metal cylinder body. A spring-side step portion of the spring is pressed contact to a mounting portion-side step portion of the retaining spring mounting hole so the spring is retained. When the tube is pulled towards an opening side of the retaining spring mounting hole, the spring moves and the spring-side step portion makes press contact with, and is once again retained, by a different step of the mounting portion-side step portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Takashi Ono, Yasunori Hata, Akira Sumiyashiki
  • 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: 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: 8960790
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a tension structure extended on a back frame with a configuration in which a natural frequency in the right-and-left direction of the back frame is set lower than the natural frequency in the front-and-rear direction. Thereby, the structure can easily deflect in the right-and-left direction. Therefore, since an impact load larger than a predetermined level inputted in the front-and-rear direction due to front-and-rear/pitching vibration or a rear collision and the like becomes a force of deflecting the back frame in the right-and-left direction, the vibration/impact energy is consumed by that, and moreover, rearward displacement of the back frame consumes vibration/impact energy. Thus, absorbing performances of the vibration/impact energy are higher than before.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Seiji Kawasaki, Shigeyuki Kojima, Soichi Makita
  • 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150035329
    Abstract: A seating assembly is disclosed, and includes a seat, at least two harness straps, an adjustment mechanism, and at least one crush feature. The seat has a shell, and the shell has a rear surface. The harness straps each have upper portions. The adjustment mechanism adjusts the upper portions of each of the harness straps. The adjustment mechanism includes a rigid engagement member and at least one biasing member. The biasing member is configured to exert a biasing force upon the support member in an upwards direction to adjust the upper portions of the harness straps. The crush feature projects outwardly from the rear surface of the shell. The crush feature generally opposes the rigid engagement member. The rigid engagement member is configured to plastically deform the crush feature upon impact of a predetermined force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: RECARO CHILD SAFETY LLC
    Inventor: Chad Allen Sparling
  • Patent number: 8939504
    Abstract: A seat back of vehicle seat including: a seat back frame; a support wire element disposed in the seat back frame; a support plate attached to the support wire element such that an upper portion thereof projects upwardly from the support wire element; and a resilient reinforcing element provided to that upper portion of support wire element, thereby normally reinforcing such upper portion. The resilient reinforcing element has two upper end portions respectively slidably engaged with two brackets of the seat back frame and a main reinforcing portion which is resiliently extensible, while being resiliently deformable rearwardly of the seat back frame. Another resilient reinforcing element having a pair of reinforcing portions may be provided to a lower portion of the support wire element to normally reinforce such upper portion. Each of those two different reinforcing elements is resiliently deformable rearwardly by an excessive great load applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Abe, Masato Miyaguchi
  • Patent number: 8936312
    Abstract: A seat supports an occupant of a vehicle. The seat comprises a seating frame member for providing a surface to support the occupant and a back frame member extending away from the seating frame member. The back frame member defines a U-shaped cavity. A boss is coupled to the back frame member within the U-shaped cavity. A fastening element extends through the boss and the back frame member. The fastening element deforms the boss and the back frame member when a force above a predetermined value is applied to the back frame member thereby causing the back frame member to rotate relative to the seating frame member. Allowing the back frame member to rotate relative to the seating frame member reduces an impact force transferred from the seat to the occupant caused by the force above the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventor: Jonathan Evans
  • Patent number: 8911013
    Abstract: A safety seat for a motor vehicle includes a seat unit and a back unit having an upper part and a lower part. The safety seat can be connected by way of the upper part to the structure of a motor vehicle, and the lower part can be dropped with respect to the upper part. The lower part is guided on the upper part and is connected to the upper part by at least one energy-absorbing support strap. The seat unit has a forward part connected in articulated fashion to the upper part of the back unit, and a rear part which is connected in articulated fashion to the lower part of the back unit. The rear part of the seat unit drops farther than the forward part of the seat unit when a force resulting from an accident or an explosion acts on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Schroth Safety Products GmbH
    Inventor: Wilko Reinck
  • 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: 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: 8888176
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises: left and right side frames (4) which constitute left and right lower portions of a seat back frame (2); an inner frame (pipe frame 5) disposed adjacent to a laterally inner side of one of the side frames (4); a force-receiving member (bracket 7) disposed adjacent to a laterally outer side of the one of the side frames (4), provided discretely from the inner frame, and configured to receive a load from outside in a lateral direction; and a load transmission part (lower frame 6 and lower portion 51 of the pipe frame 5) configured to transmit the load from the force-receiving member to a side laterally opposite to that on which the force-receiving member is provided. The force-receiving member is directly fixed to the inner frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignees: TS Tech Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kaku, Jogen Yamaki, Hisato Oku
  • Patent number: 8888177
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises: a base frame (side frame 4, pipe frame 5) which constitutes at least left and right lower portions of a seat back frame; a force-receiving member (bracket 7) disposed adjacent to a left or right outer side of the base frame, and configured to receive a load from outside in a lateral direction; and a load transmission part configured to transmit the load from the force-receiving member to a side laterally opposite to that on which the force-receiving member is provided, wherein the force-receiving member has a shape with a closed cross section, and a portion of at least one of an upper wall (72) and a lower wall (74) separate from front and rear ends thereof provides an uneven shape (stepped profile 72a, 74a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignees: TS Tech Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kaku, Jogen Yamaki, Hisato Oku
  • Patent number: 8882194
    Abstract: An energy absorbing device for a seat containing an occupant includes a seat frame with legs, a seat pan, and a back member. Attached to the seat is an energy absorbing device fixed to the back member of the seat frame. The energy absorbing device includes an engagement portion fixing the energy absorbing device to the seat frame and an energy absorbing extension having a fixed end integral with the engagement portion, and a protruding end extending toward the seat pan. The seat has a seat belt for the occupant and the belt is attached to a belt support device which extends parallel to the energy absorbing extension. When the occupant is using the seatbelt and the seat undergoes lateral forces, the energy absorbing extension undergoes deformation, and when the occupant is not using the seatbelt and the seat undergoes lateral forces, the energy absorbing extension does not undergo deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: PAC Seating Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Hector Noel Marini, Kevin James Read, Oriol Oliva-Perez, Jad Azzi
  • Patent number: 8876154
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly having a back panel module configured to conceal an air bag module disposed in a seat back. A back panel module may have a back panel and a side panel. The back panel and the side panel may extend along the lateral side of the seat back and form an exterior surface of the back panel module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Tracht, Florian Reithmeier
  • Publication number: 20140312664
    Abstract: An easy-to-attach clip member that makes the surroundings of a stay cloth mounting portion compact while maintaining high airbag deployment performance, and an airbag module-equipped seat with the clip member are provided. A clip member is connected to a cloth-form body that transmits a tensile force. The clip member includes a connecting portion connected to one end of the cloth-form body, and a groove engaged with an edge portion of a mounted portion. The clip member is provided to reduce a torque generated at the connecting portion by the tensile force transmitted from the cloth-form body when engaged with the edge portion of the mounted portion, and connects the cloth-form body to the mounted portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Jinichi Tanabe, Hiroshi Izawa, Hiroshi Baba
  • 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: 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: 20140265473
    Abstract: Disclosed is a car seat for protecting vertebral column, comprising: a backrest and a seat, wherein there is disposed with a troughed recess at a central portion of each of the backrest and the seat, so that when the backrest and the seat are subject to external impact, the impact damage incurred by the backrest and the seat onto a human vertebral column may be avoided, and in this way the human vertebral column can therefore be protected; in an embodiment of the present invention, there further comprises a plurality of viscous elastomers disposed inside the backrest and the seat, these viscous elastomers are set up in a corresponding arrangement on two sides of a human vertebral column, so as to assist in biasing the muscle on the two sides of the vertebral column to cause less direct impact by the external force, and to provide a cushioning effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FORSOUND CORP.
    Inventor: Fu-Chieng CHEN
  • Patent number: 8833852
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly having a seat pad, a trim cover, an air bag module, and a pad shield. The air bag module has an air bag, an inflator, and a housing that receives the air bag when the air bag is in a stored condition. The pad shield extends at least partially around the housing. Inflation of the air bag forces the pad shield against the seat pad to inhibit the air bag from contacting at least a portion of the seat pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Festag
  • Patent number: 8833849
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (10) is equipped with a seat frame composed of a sub-frame (16) and a rod (30) provided between certain regions of the sub-frame. The rod is equipped with a minor vibration damping portion (34) that maintains rigidity of the seat frame when the seat frame is displaced by a large amount and suppresses an increase in rigidity of the seat frame when the seat frame is displaced by a small amount to reduce the level of minor vibrations in the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Ishimoto, Keisuke Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 8827362
    Abstract: A seat back frame for the vehicle seat, includes a pair of side frames that are disposed on both sides in a seat width direction; and a supporting plate that has both ends connected to a bottom section of each of the side frames, wherein the supporting plate is at least disposed along an interval between a first height that corresponds to an upper part of a lumbar vertebra of an occupant seated in the seat and a second height that corresponds to a lower part of the lumbar vertebra, and curves in a manner such that, in a cross-section along with a vertical direction, the supporting plate bulges forward along a line from the first height to the second height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jogen Yamaki, Kenichi Saito, Takeshi Abe, Harutomi Nishide, Yozo Furuta, Yoshitomo Oka, Hisato Oku
  • Patent number: 8820830
    Abstract: A vehicle seat arrangement includes a seat body that includes a seat and a seat back at a rear of the seat. The vehicle seat arrangement also includes displaceable seat components which produce a lateral bracing as a function of accelerations in the direction of a transverse vehicle axis. The displaceable seat components are at least partly extendable in a necessitating situation. In a retracted state, the displaceable seat component is situated entirely within the seat back. In an actuated state, the displaceable seat component extends forward from an interior of the seat back, thereby forming an interior sidewall of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lich, Marc Zimmermann, Gian Antonio D'Addetta
  • Patent number: 8820780
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a back frame, and a foam cushion assembly positioned adjacent the back frame. A trim cover is secured over the foam cushion assembly. The trim cover includes a first edge and a second edge sewn together to define a tear seam. A side airbag module is attached to the back frame. The side airbag module includes an airbag that is deployable through the tear seam. A guide chute includes a first strap end attached to the trim cover adjacent the tear seam, and a second strap end attached to a component of the seat assembly other than the back frame, such as the foam cushion assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Scott D. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140239683
    Abstract: An energy absorbing device for a seat containing an occupant includes a seat frame with legs, a seat pan, and a back member. Attached to the seat is an energy absorbing device fixed to the back member of the seat frame. The energy absorbing device includes an engagement portion fixing the energy absorbing device to the seat frame and an energy absorbing extension having a fixed end integral with the engagement portion, and a protruding end extending toward the seat pan. The seat has a seat belt for the occupant and the belt is attached to a belt support device which extends parallel to the energy absorbing extension. When the occupant is using the seatbelt and the seat undergoes lateral forces, the energy absorbing extension undergoes deformation, and when the occupant is not using the seatbelt and the seat undergoes lateral forces, the energy absorbing extension does not undergo deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: PAC SEATING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Hector Noel Marini, Kevin James Read, Oriol Oliva-Perez, Jad Azzi
  • Patent number: 8814269
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided. The vehicle seat includes a back frame, and a bracket assembled to the back frame and configured to reduce a load applied to a neck of an occupant by shock of a rear collision when the rear collision occurs in a vehicle, wherein the bracket has an inclined surface that is substantially parallel with a torso line at a normal posture of a seatback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuya Suzuki, Tomoyuki Takase, Shinya Ando, Michinori Kakumu, Keiichiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 8807594
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat frame, a pad that is attached to the seat frame, an air bag that is attached to the seat frame, a board that is attached to the seat frame and covers the air bag, and a cap that is made of material harder than the pad and is attached to the seat frame, and extends forward of a tip end edge of the board through a gap between the pad and the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Mizobata
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140183912
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, has a seat part, a backrest, and at least one fitting, by which the back rest is attached pivotably to the seat part. The fitting has a first fitting part connected to the backrest and a second fitting part connected to the seat part. The fittings are normally located in the force flux between the backrest and seat part. The seat has at least one deformation zone which is deformed in the event of a crash. A supporting element is mounted on the backrest and supporting element is mounted on the seat part, the supporting elements normally being spaced apart from each other and, in the event of a crash, coming into contact with each other because of the deformation of the deformation zone to provide a further force flux path lying parallel to the fitting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Christian Markel, Thomas Dill, Wolfgang Pluta, Viktor Enns, Gerhard Mueller
  • Patent number: 8757715
    Abstract: A vehicle seat of the present invention includes: a seatback frame which has side frame sections on both sides thereof in a seat width direction; a load transmission member which projects toward an outside in the seat width direction from one of the side frame sections and transmits an impact load input from a side of a vehicle body to the seatback frame; and a side airbag device which is provided with an inflator which generates a gas when the impact load is input and a folded bag body to be deployed when the pressure of the gas is received. The inflator is attached to the load transmission member or the side frame section, and the bag body is disposed at a position which is further outside than a gas discharge port of the inflator in the seat width direction and is opposed to a surface facing the vehicle front side of the load transmission member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jogen Yamaki, Takashi Aoki, Yukihiro Kunitake, Harutomi Nishide