Bottom And Back Movable As Unit In Response To Force Patents (Class 297/216.16)
  • Patent number: 11110880
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly is provided having a seat frame and a foam cushion supported on the seat frame. An airbag module is positioned in an opening formed in the foam cushion. A trim cover assembly covering the foam cushion and airbag module has an interlay material sewn to a trim panel at an interlay seam. The interlay material extends from the interlay seam to cover an outboard surface of the airbag module inside the trim panel to ensure the airbag module is not visible through the trim panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Judith Ter Haseborg, Thorsten Vogel
  • Patent number: 10427564
    Abstract: Impact absorption devices and methods for a vehicle's seat are provided. Devices comprise vertical support(s), energy absorbing element(s) hingedly connected to the seat and hingedly connected to the vertical support; and at least four rods hingedly connected to the seat and hingedly connected to the vertical support. The rods are positioned to geometrically guide a relative motion of the seat with respect to the vertical support upon impact, and to direct the impact energy absorption by the energy absorbing element(s). The rods may be configured according to prevailing spatial relations and required energy absorption with respect to expected intensities and directions of impacts. The devices may be configured with any energy absorption element(s), may be augmented by vibration damping or implemented using electromagnetic dampers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Mobius Protection Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Shy Mindel, Anan Hasan
  • Patent number: 10052982
    Abstract: The reclining child car seat is a child safety seat. The reclining child car seat comprises a reclining mechanism that reclines the reclining child car seat in a manner that allows a child to sleep while secured within the reclining child car seat. The reclining mechanism is motor operated. The reclining mechanism is remote controlled. The reclining child seat comprises a seat and a reclining mechanism. The reclining mechanism further comprises a linkage and a control system. The linkage is a structure that: 1) attaches the seating portion of the reclining child car seat to an automobile; and 2) controls the position of the seating portion of the reclining child car seat. The control system adjusts the position of the seating portion of the reclining child car seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Inventor: Grace Danley
  • Patent number: 9975416
    Abstract: Some vehicles are equipped with an onboard battery. The onboard battery includes a holding frame having a frame-shaped part, a housing case that is held by the holding frame, being inserted into the frame-shaped part, and battery modules housed in the housing case. For such a vehicle with the onboard battery, the vehicle body structure includes a displacement restricting part and a disposition depression. The displacement restricting part restricts an upward displacement of the onboard battery in a collision from behind is formed at a position facing a front end portion of the holding frame. The disposition depression is formed in a floor panel and the onboard battery is disposed to be at least partly inserted into the disposition depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Hara, Takayuki Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 9033412
    Abstract: In a method for reducing the impact of a force upon a person seated in a safety seat of a motor vehicle at least a seat unit of the safety seat is restrained at least in part by at least one support strap. The support strap is formed with an extension piece configured to lengthen when exposed to a load as a result of an accident or explosion. A winding unit holds the support strap to shorten an effective length of the support strap and to build up a force to maintain the support strap under tension after the support strap underwent a lengthening in an area of the extension piece as a result of a load caused by a force resulting from an accident or explosion so as to reestablish an effective length of the support strap for lengthening during a subsequent force impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SCHROTH SAFETY PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventor: Wilko Reinck
  • Patent number: 8998325
    Abstract: A vehicle seat carrier for a vehicle seat comprises a position adjustment arrangement adapted to enable the vehicle seat carrier to be displaced between a plurality of different positions and a position lock adapted to retain the vehicle seat carrier at a selected position. The position lock is adapted to be disabled as a response to a detected crash, or a detected imminent crash, so that the vehicle seat carrier is permitted to be displaced along a first path at least partly defined by the position adjustment arrangement, to provide for a passenger protective function. The passenger protective function utilizes the existing position adjustment arrangement to provide for a controlled displacement during a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Tony Jonsson
  • Patent number: 8985686
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises an adjusting element having an output with a driving gearwheel and an output gearwheel. The gearwheels are connected to each other for conjoint rotation. The output gearwheel interacts with a fitting part in an interlocking and/or frictional manner. The driving gearwheel and the output gearwheel comprise multiple pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Uwe Breitfeld, Frank Triebeneck
  • Patent number: 8939502
    Abstract: Vehicle seats that reduce the potential for injury to occupants when the vehicle is subjected to a mine or similar explosive device. The seats are ceiling or wall mounted and include a trailing arm which allows for deflection while providing stability. The seat isolates the occupants from the chassis of the vehicle via a pneumatic or other shock absorber and/or a crushable element to provide protection from vertical and horizontal oriented blasts. These seats can also be combined with shock absorbing/isolating foot rests, appendage (leg) restrain systems and an occupant four-point harness to offer a completely integrated system. This integrated system reduces acceleration/deceleration related injuries, shock injuries to the lower legs, flailing injuries to the lower legs and internal collision injuries. Other options and alternatives are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Med-Eng, LLC
    Inventors: Neil Grant, Brent Almstedt
  • Patent number: 8888179
    Abstract: Designs and methods are provided for an energy attenuating device. In one exemplary embodiment the device comprises an elongated metal tube having an expanded portion at a first end thereof, and an unexpanded portion extending from the expanded portion to a second end, wherein the first end is attached to a fixed structure. A mandrel is disposed in the expanded portion of the elongated metal tube, having a diameter greater than the inside diameter of the unexpanded portion of the metal tube. A tension member is attached to the mandrel and extends out of the second end of the metal tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Armorworks Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: David A. Bosen, Ryan Michael Larson, Terry Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 8876205
    Abstract: A safety seat for land vehicles, aircraft and watercraft, having a seat part frame, and a backrest frame suspended on a restraint or suspension strap firmly attached to the vehicle, wherein the backrest frame has a lateral or transverse strut, and an additional holding strap clamps the lateral strut in. A separate mounting frame is provided to fix the restraint strap and the holding strap, and can be mounted in the vehicle, wherein bushing or guide-through eyes and attachment eyes for stretching the restraint strap and the holding strap are provided on the oppositely disposed lateral or transverse supports of the mounting frame, and wherein the holding strap is formed integrally, is fixed by its two ends to two attachment eyes, and is looped through, and passed back and forth between, a plurality of bushing eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Autoflug GmbH
    Inventor: Mario Maevert
  • Patent number: 8864229
    Abstract: Human support systems for one or more of the safety, convenience, comfort of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Arjuna Indraesewaran Rajasingham
  • Patent number: 8840180
    Abstract: A vehicle tip-up seat wherein the seat includes a seat back having a front surface, a seat portion having an upper surface and a lower surface. The seat portion is pivotally mounted to the seat back at a first pivot point. An elongated support member extends generally perpendicular to and spaced apart from the lower surface of the seat portion. The elongated support member is fixed to the lower surface of the seat portion. At least one support bracket extends between the elongated support member and the lower surface of the seat portion to support the seat in the event of a crash as seat portion rotates downward. The seat further includes a cushioning foam fully covering the support bracket, the seat portion and the elongated support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Daisuke Itoh, Trevor J. DeLanoy, Robert C. Day, Vasudeva S. Murthy
  • Patent number: 8800977
    Abstract: The invention relates to a suspension device for vehicle seats and/or vehicle cabins for applying a spring force to a vibratory motion of a first component relative to a second component, preferably in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the vehicle, wherein at least one elongate spring member extending at least in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the vehicle is connected in at least one end region to the first component and in the central region thereof to the second component, wherein the elongate spring member is made from a flexible elastomer material that is formed to be rod-shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventor: Jens Kolb
  • Patent number: 8757068
    Abstract: A device connects a table for groups of seats arranged transversely with respect to the direction of travel to the side wall of a vehicle with an upright supporting structure disposed below the table top in the vicinity of the side wall and the lower end is fastened to the side wall and the upper end is fastened to the table top. The supporting structure for the table top is stable and reduces the risk of injury to passengers during collisions without any loss in comfort. The supporting structure has two flexurally rigid posts arranged upright at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction and have buckling points spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the posts and have defined buckling axes which, when a force acting on the table is exceeded, permit an elastic yielding of the table in the direction of the force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20140167459
    Abstract: Various embodiments of seat harness pretensioning devices for use in land, air, and sea vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a seat unit for use in a military land vehicle or helicopter includes a stroking device that enables the seat to move downwardly in response to sudden movement. The seat unit also includes a seat belt or harness that extends around the occupant in the seat. Sudden movement of the seat in response to an explosion or hard landing causes a tensioning system to automatically pretension the seat harness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: David T. Merrill, Todd J. Humbert
  • Patent number: 8714642
    Abstract: A seat for supporting an occupant of a vehicle and absorbing a force between the occupant and the vehicle created by relative movement between the occupant and the vehicle including a seat bottom and a seat back extending from the seat bottom. At least one of the seat bottom and the seat back includes a first energy absorbing device for absorbing at least a portion of the force when the force reaches a first magnitude. The one of the seat bottom and the seat back also includes a second energy absorbing device for absorbing at least a portion of the force when the force reaches a second magnitude greater than the first magnitude. The second energy absorbing device supports the first energy absorbing device so that the first energy absorbing device transmits a portion of the force to the second energy absorbing device when the force reaches the second magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Survivability Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Ronald C. Lamparter, Sorin Coman, Hugh S. McLeod
  • Patent number: 8678510
    Abstract: An anchor plate (12) and an inner lap anchor (14) disposed at left and right sides of a vehicle seat are connected to an inner side cable (20A) and an outer side cable (20B), respectively. The anchor plate (12) and the inner lap anchor (14) are pulled substantially at the same time by a pretensioner device (21) when acceleration of a predetermined degree or more is applied to a seat (1). A support device (40) is provided between the inner lap anchor (14) and the inner side cable (20A) so as to support load applied to the inner lap anchor (14) in a distributed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Masutani
  • Patent number: 8616636
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat, first and second front links as well as first and second rear links are pivotally connected between a seat cushion frame and a floor of vehicle. The first front link has one pivot point pivotally connected with a drive pinion rotatably supported in one side of the seat cushion frame and another pivot point disposed forwardly of that one pivot point. Likewise, the second front link has one pivot point pivotally connected with the other side of the seat cushion frame and another pivot point disposed forwardly of that one pivot point. A first connecting link element is pivotally connected between the afore-said another pivot point of the first front link and the first rear link. A second connecting link element is pivotally connected between the afore-said another pivot point of the second front link and the second rear link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Arata
  • Patent number: 8616635
    Abstract: An anti-crash seat (1) for a vehicle, the seat comprising a bucket (2) and a frame (6), said bucket (2) being provided with a seat proper (3) and with a back (4) for receiving a person. Said seat (1) includes crash energy absorber means (10) and antivibration means (20). The seat also includes inhibitor means (30) for inhibiting said antivibration means (20) so as to neutralize the antivibration means (20) when the seat (1) is subjected to acceleration towards the floor that is greater than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventor: Laurent Dock
  • Patent number: 8602491
    Abstract: An adjustable seat structure (1) extends over substantially the width of the seat. An electric drive unit (12) is on one side (4) of the seat but adjusts the seat structure (1) on both sides of the seat. Locks (17) for fixing the seat structure (1) are provided on both sides. The seat ensures a structurally simple adjustment and fixing of the seat on both sides. The adjustment forces are transmitted by the seat structure from the drive unit located on one side of the seat to the other side of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tassilo Gilbert, Dieter Jungert
  • Patent number: 8585139
    Abstract: A seat bottom of a vehicle seat includes a base portion, a movable frame configured to be movable in a front-rear direction relative to the base portion, a tension generator and a tension transmission member. The tension transmission member connected at one end of its first portion with the tension generator is bifurcated at another end of a first portion into a second portion connected with a seat belt anchor or a seat belt buckle and a third portion connected with the movable frame. Upon activation of the tension generator, the third portion pulls the movable frame rearward and at the same time the second portion pulls the seat belt anchor or the seat belt buckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Masutani
  • Patent number: 8579371
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a reclinable seatback (2), a seat bottom (3) movable in a front-and-rear direction, a pretensioner (41) for moving the seat bottom (3) rearward, and brackets (21, 21) attached to a vehicle body. The seat bottom is attached to the brackets so as to move in the front-and-rear direction, the seatback is rotatably attached to the brackets, and the pretensioner moves the seat bottom relatively rearward with respect to the brackets. When the seat bottom is moved rearward by the pretensioner, a front portion of the seat bottom is moved upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Eiji Masutani
  • Patent number: 8556341
    Abstract: The present invention provides a unique shock absorbing module which, when attached to a vehicular seat and chassis, exhibits unexpected superior effectiveness in reducing the effects of impacting shocks emanating from the operation of a vehicle. The shock absorbing system includes shock absorbing members disposed within a guide track supported by support frame. A slideable carriage with tracking members such as wheels saddling onto the shock absorbing system serves to immediately transfer and absorb any impacting forces exerted multidirectionally against the carriage member and a vehicular seat mounted thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Kenneth G. Connaughty
  • Patent number: 8550553
    Abstract: Designs and methods are provided for a side mounted energy attenuating vehicle seat. In one exemplary embodiment the seat comprises a rigid base with a first side, and a substantially vertically oriented mounting plate adjacent the first side of the base. The exemplary seat further comprises a vertical slide mechanism comprising a fixed portion attached to the mounting plate, and a sliding portion attached to the first side of the base, the mechanism configured to allow for a downward stroke of the base relative to the mounting plate. A roller is attached to the first side of the base substantially below the point of attachment to the sliding portion of the vertical slide mechanism, and configured to roll in a vertical direction while bearing against the mounting plate, and supporting the seat base in a horizontal orientation. An energy attenuating member is positioned so as to prevent the seat from stroking downward relative to the mounting plate during normal use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Armorworks Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Richard Clark, Terry Wilhelm, Joshua Platt
  • Patent number: 8528986
    Abstract: A seatbelt mechanism (S) comprises a chip anchor (12) disposed to one of right and left sides of a seat bottom (3) of the vehicle seat (1) and coupled to a tip end of the seatbelt (10), and a tongue anchor (14) disposed to the other of the right and left sides of the seat bottom (3) and engaged with a tongue plate (13) disposed to an intermediate portion of the seatbelt (10). A pretensioner mechanism (21) moves both the chip anchor (12) and the tongue anchor (14) substantially at the same time to actively tenses the seatbelt (10) when the vehicle collision occurs. A moving distance of the chip anchor (12) is substantially equal to a moving distance of the tongue anchor (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Masutani
  • Patent number: 8434819
    Abstract: An occupant safety system for protecting the occupant of a vehicle seat, the system comprising a movable seat supporting member located under the vehicle seat, the supporting member being operatively connected to the vehicle seat so that the seat moves with the supporting member; and a driving member connected to the supporting member by an elongated linking member; wherein the driving member includes a movable actuator connected to the linking member; wherein the driving member is configured to drive the actuator in a rearward direction causing a corresponding rearward movement of the linking member, wherein movement of the linking member in the rearward direction pulls the supporting member and the vehicle seat in the rearward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Guerrero
  • Patent number: 8371647
    Abstract: Disclosed are various seats for vehicles particularly military vehicles that are susceptible to attack by road-bed explosive devices such as land mines or improvised explosive devices. The seats often have rigid seat shells and may include rigid bracing for rigidly securing the seat to the chassis of the vehicle. Typically embodiments include channels and particulate media such as sand disposed in the channels. A gas distribution system is generally employed to pump a gas through the channels and in some embodiments the gas is provided at a pressure sufficient to fluidize the particulate media when an occupant is sitting on the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Y-12, LLC
    Inventor: Edward B. Ripley
  • Patent number: 8348337
    Abstract: A child safety seat configured for installation in a vehicle may include a base and a seat that includes a bottom, whereby the seat is connected to the base along an axis. The base and the seat together define a cavity that is disposed therebetween and the seat bottom is configured to rotate about the axis that connects the seat to the base during a frontal impact such that the seat bottom advances into the cavity. The safety seat may include energy absorbing member disposed within the cavity wherein the energy absorbing member is configured to be deformed as the seat bottom advances into the cavity during frontal impact. The energy absorbing member may be deformed by substantially vertical movement of the seat bottom into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Britax Child Safety, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher G. Franck, L. Curtis Strong
  • Patent number: 8317262
    Abstract: The seat assembly (1) for a land vehicle, sea vessel, or aircraft comprises a vertically adjustable seat (4) supporting the buttocks of a user and a plurality of cables (9-12) disposed between the seat (4) and structural parts (8) of the vehicle. The seat (4) forms at least indirectly the component of a platform (2), which can be displaced along the cables (9-12) and fixed in the respective position on the cables (9-12). The cable sections (9a-12a, 9b-12b) located above and beneath the platform (2) extend between the platform (2) and the structural parts (8) such that they either point toward the vertical center axis (MA) of the platform (2) or are directed away therefrom. The cables (9-12) can be guided via at least one height adjustment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Schroth Safety Products GmbH
    Inventors: Carl-Jürgen Schroth, David Hayward
  • Patent number: 8240758
    Abstract: A tiltable vehicle seat has a tiltable metallic seat pan that tilts upon rapid vehicle deceleration. The metallic seat pan is supported for movement between a normal seating position and a tilted or deployed position. The seat pan includes a deformable anti-submarining beam that extends laterally across the seat pan. The deformable anti-submarining beam is deformable in response to a prescribed deformation force exerted from the general direction of a buttocks supporting end thereof with the seat pan in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: John Combest
  • Publication number: 20120119415
    Abstract: In one aspect, an aircraft seat assembly comprises a plurality of seat skeleton parts (22-26, 36,38) held in juxtaposition with one another by means of an over-moulded polymer material (42). In another aspect an aircraft seat assembly comprises a seat back portion having an expanded polymer material over-moulded over a seat skeleton part (14), the seat back portion having posterior recesses (38) that allow additional knee-space for a passenger seated in a seat behind. In another aspect an interior structural component of an aircraft comprises a moulded polymer encapsulated by a metallic flashing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventor: Gary Seale
  • Patent number: 8113575
    Abstract: A seat frame 51 is mounted on a body freely movably back and forth. The frame 51 moves backward by leaving a backrest seat 2 by a pretensioner device 10. A front portion of a spring material 71 supporting a cushion material 62 of the seat 3 is arranged on the front portion of the seat frame 51. A rear-side portion of the spring material 71 is mounted on a rear-side spring mounting member 72 below the backrest seat 2. The mounting member 72 is immovable and extends in a lateral direction. A rear position of a cushion material 62 does not move even if the seat moves backward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Masutani
  • Patent number: 8096505
    Abstract: A deceleration device for a movable component in an aircraft, the device having a deformation component, wherein the deformation component includes a deformation tool, a deformation body with a deformable region, and a guide device. The deformation tool and the deformation body can be made to engage each other in such a manner by means of the guide device that in the case of movement of the deformation body and of the deformation tool relative to each other the deformable region of the deformation body can be deformed by the deformation tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Arne Klarmann, Nick Chignell-Stapleton
  • Patent number: 8080303
    Abstract: A safety seat comprising a unitary molded shell having a “bucket-seat” shape and a safety restraint system integral to the shell. The molded unitary shell has a bottom portion and a back portion. The shell comprises an inner layer and an outer layer made of a carbon fiber laminate with a core situated between the inner and outer layers. The core comprises aluminum sheeting having a honeycomb-like cross-section. A plurality of attachment plates are selectively located within the shell and disposed between the inner and outer layers. The safety restraint system is fastened to corresponding attachment plates. Support plates located on a non-seating surface of the shell are mated with selected attachment plates. A headrest is selectively attached to the safety seat. The safety seat is secured to structural members within a vehicle by mounting brackets. A method for making the shell and assembling the safety seat are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: HMS Holdings Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Gary Gene Dehart
  • Patent number: 7963603
    Abstract: A vehicle seat stabilization system configured for minimizing downward displacement of a seat cushion upon vehicle impact includes a vehicle seat and a stabilization device. The seat has a first and second vertical position and includes the cushion, a torque tube, mounting arrangement, slide assembly, and lift linkage. The device is configured for minimizing downward displacement of the cushion upon vehicle impact and includes a piston, rod, first cylinder, and a second cylinder disposed entirely within and cooperating with the first cylinder to define a conduit. The piston divides the second cylinder and defines a first and second chamber in fluid communication via the conduit. The device includes fluid and a member disposed within the second cylinder moveable upon vehicle impact to seal off fluid communication between the conduit and the second chamber to minimize downward displacement of the cushion upon impact when the seat is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: James F. Pywell
  • Patent number: 7938485
    Abstract: A variable displacement seating assembly incorporates at least first and second pivotable seat frames. The first seat frame includes a male seat connector. The second seat frame is arranged adjacent the first seat frame, and includes a female seat connector receiving the male seat connector of the first seat frame. The first and second seat frames are operatively interconnected for simultaneous pivoting movement between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the deployed position of the first and second seat frames, the male and female seat connectors are disposed for sliding vertical movement of one seat connector relative to the other, such that the first and second seat frames are independently vertically displaceable upon an impact force acting against the seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Armorworks Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: William Joseph Perciballi, Richard F. Langner, Joshua Kevin Platt, Sean Joseph Murphy
  • Patent number: 7862114
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide a vehicle seat assembly that is coupled to a floor of a vehicle. The assembly comprises a seat back frame, a seat cushion frame, at least one leg and at least one blocking member. The seat cushion frame is pivotally coupled to the seat back frame. The leg is pivotally coupled to the seat cushion frame and pivotally coupled to the floor of the vehicle. The blocking member is coupled to the seat cushion frame and capable of moving into engagement with the leg as the assembly moves from the folded position to the upright seating position. The blocking member is adapted to block movement of the leg and to stabilize the seat assembly in the event of a vehicle collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Curtis David Kalina, Richard Edward Ruthinowski, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Brian Robert Spahn, Joseph Robert Brown
  • Publication number: 20100283298
    Abstract: Safety seat for land vehicles, aircraft, and watercraft. A seat portion frame forms a seat portion, and a backrest frame, connected to the seat portion frame and disposed at an angle thereto, forms a backrest. Two vertical, vehicle-mounted retaining straps are disposed near the rear edge of the seat portion. Each retaining strap is a strap loop mounted between vehicle-mounted anchors that are spaced vertically apart. The strap loop has a front strap facing the safety seat, and a rear strap spaced from the front strap. The front and rear straps are respectively alternatingly guided over an upper cross member of the backrest frame and, in the region of the seat portion frame, a lower cross member of the backrest frame such that when the strap loop is tensioned, the front and rear straps clamp the upper and lower cross members between them. The backrest frame is suspended on at least one suspension strap secured to a further vehicle-mounted anchor above the safety seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: AUTOFLUG GMBH
    Inventor: Holger Hansen
  • Patent number: 7810881
    Abstract: A frame of a motor vehicle seat for a motor vehicle including a hinge mounting having a hinge arm, and further including a structure part, said structure part being connected to the hinge arm in a connection region, the connection region being rigid when subjected to a load below a threshold value that occurs at accelerations in a normal driving condition of the motor vehicle and the connection region being compliant when subjected to bending loads at values occurring at accelerations of the motor vehicle occurring in an event of an accident, whereby the connection region includes a tongue that projects from one of the hinge arm and the structure part, and further includes a holding device that is provided on the one of the hinge arm and the structure part on which the holding device is not provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wilfried Beneker, Nils Magnus
  • Publication number: 20100219667
    Abstract: Various embodiments of seat harness pretensioning devices for use in land, air, and sea vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a seat unit for use in a military land vehicle or helicopter includes a stroking device that enables the seat to move downwardly in response to an explosion or hard landing, respectively. The seat unit also includes a seat belt or harness that extends around the occupant in the seat. Downward movement of the seat in response to an explosion or hard landing causes a tensioning system to automatically pretension the seat harness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: David T. Merrill, Todd Humbert
  • Patent number: 7784579
    Abstract: A member disengagement apparatus comprises fastening release parts for disengaging fastened members fastened by fastening parts, a release operation unit for releasing the fastening release parts, an operation-inhibiting unit for inhibiting a release operation of the release operation unit, and a control unit for controlling the operation-inhibiting unit. The control unit controls the operation-inhibiting unit so that the release operation is no longer inhibited when specific emergency signals are received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuaki Taguchi, Tadashi Naito
  • Publication number: 20100102170
    Abstract: A lightweight airplane seat using composite material to form a four-bar linkage, pivotal at the corners to reduce torque stresses and including a frangible compressible strut to absorb the forces generated during a crash.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: Harper Engineering Co.
    Inventor: Richard J. LaConte
  • Patent number: 7695064
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back frame, a foam cushion mounted on the frame, and an air bag assembly mounted upon the frame within a hollow provided in the cushion. A trim cover covers the cushion and conceals the air bag assembly, and includes a side panel facing the side of the vehicle and a front panel facing forwardly. The side panel and front panel are joined together at a vertical extending separable seam. The side panel has a lower portion and an upper portion joined together at a horizontal extending separable seam located adjacent to the lower edge of the air bag assembly. Upon inflation of the air bag, the inflating air bag forces the side panel outwardly causing separation of the separable seams and enabling the air bag to inflate both forwardly through the vertical extending separable seam and downwardly through the horizontal extending separable seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Thomas, Nancy C. Evans, William A. Biondo, Diane K. McQueen
  • Patent number: 7640090
    Abstract: A headrest control apparatus includes: a headrest moving mechanism that supports a headrest in such a manner that at least one of a rotation of the headrest about an axis of the headrest, which extends in the vehicle-height direction, and a movement of the headrest in the vehicle-width direction is permitted; a drive unit that causes at least one of the rotation and the movement of the headrest; and a control unit that controls the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoyuki Uchida, Yuichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7611197
    Abstract: A passenger seat for a multi-passenger motor vehicle having a body with a seat-mounting includes a seat frame mountable to the seat-mounting surface, and a rear seat frame engaged with the seat frame. A front frame is engaged to the seat frame and is located forward of the rear seat frame. The front frame is configured for translational movement with respect to the seat frame. A passenger restraint member is engaged to the front frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick J. Mattes, Erik K. Nelson, Thomas R. Graham
  • Publication number: 20090267390
    Abstract: A crashworthy seat for a vehicle comprises a stand including a first and a second foot connected mechanically to a first and a second vertical support leg; a pan connected by the stand to a floor wherein the first and the second feet are disposed on each side of the pan, the pan including a seat proper and a seat back, wherein the seat back has a support element secured to the first and the second vertical support legs configured to support the seat back a guide element configured to guide the pan in translation; an energy absorber device; a first anchor point secured to the first distal end of the absorber portion; and a second anchor point secured to the second distal end of the absorber portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Eurocopter
    Inventors: Olivier Honnorat, Thomas Manfredotti, Olivier Feuillarade
  • Patent number: 7604293
    Abstract: A vehicle seat structure, which comprises a seat cushion (10), a seat back (20) connected to a rear end of the seat cushion (10), and a downward displacement suppression device (70, 80, 90, 100) operable, when a rearward load is input into the seat back (20), to suppress a downward displacement of the seat cushion (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Matsuhashi
  • Publication number: 20080246317
    Abstract: A safety seat for land vehicles, aircraft or vessels, comprising a harness for suspension from fixed points of a vehicle and for supporting a vehicle occupant. Belt retractors are disposed at the fixed vehicle points, and fabric supporting belts extend from the harness to the retractors, which pretension the belts in a direction of retraction. A manually operable switching device allows the belt retractors to be switched into a free running state, a blocking state, or a positioning state. The free running state permits free withdrawal of the belts in a direction opposite to the pretension. The blocking state effects a complete blocking of the belts in both the withdrawal and the retraction directions. The positioning state effects blocking of the belts in only the withdrawal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2004
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Holger Hansen
  • Patent number: 7360832
    Abstract: Impact absorption structure is provided in side frame element of seat cushion frame, wherein the side frame element is basically of a closed cross-section portion therein, including forward and backward support points therein. In the structure, an opened cross-section area is defined in the closed cross-section by forming a cut-away portion in a lower part of a forward local region of such closed cross-section portion between the forward and backward support points, so that the opened cross-section area is deformable at said cut-away portion by a great load transmitted from a seat back frame thereto, thereby absorbing a corresponding impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yokota, Masamitsu Minai
  • Patent number: 7341645
    Abstract: A shock and energy dissipating device includes a number of cylinders attached to an outer peripheral portion of the vehicle for being actuated when a force is applied onto the outer peripheral portion of the vehicle or when a collision happened to the vehicle. A seat device includes a base seat member, a base support for attaching to a bottom of the vehicle, an upper support for attaching to the base seat member and a moving device disposed between the base support and the upper support and coupled to the cylinders for moving the base seat member in response to the cylinders and for absorbing and dissipating an energy that may be transmitted to vehicle drivers or passengers of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventor: Jian Jhong Fong