Crash Seat Patents (Class 297/216.1)
  • Patent number: 8888126
    Abstract: A seat cushion airbag device mountable to a vehicle seat, includes an airbag includes an inflation portion including an upper fabric portion and a lower fabric portion joined to form a bag shape. The inflation portion is inflated between a support portion and a seat cushion of the vehicle seat by an inflating fluid supplied in response to an impact applied to the vehicle from a front side, such that a seat surface of the seat portion bulges, thereby suppressing a forward movement of an object to be restrained on the seat portion. The airbag further includes a restriction member which extends in a front-rear direction of the vehicle seat within the inflation portion and which bridges the upper fabric portion and the lower fabric portion to restrict an inflated thickness of the inflation portion in the upper-lower direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Nukaya, Takanori Kanto, Hiroaki Yamada, Hitoshi Ida
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140306497
    Abstract: A vehicular seat includes: a seat cushion that is disposed offset with respect to a vehicle width direction center of a vehicle; an airbag that is provided in the seat cushion and which, upon receiving a supply of gas, is expanded and deployed in such a way as to suppress a seated occupant from moving toward the front of the vehicle; and gas supplying device which, when actuated at the time of a frontal impact of the vehicle, supplies gas to the airbag in such a way that a vehicle width direction outer side section of the airbag with respect to a vehicle width direction center of the seat cushion is expanded and deployed before an inner side section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Osamu Fukawatase
  • Patent number: 8855884
    Abstract: An occupant protection system is provided. The occupant protection system includes a sensor for detecting an impact at a time of collision, a determination device for determining the collision based on a detection signal of the sensor, and a an occupant state detection device for detecting whether an occupant's posture is maintainable. When the occupant's posture is maintainable after a primary-collision, the determination device determines a secondary-collision by comparing the detection signal of the sensor with a first threshold. When the occupant's posture is not maintainable after the primary collision, the determination device determines the secondary-collision by comparing the detection signal of the sensor with a second threshold smaller than the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Fujitsuka
  • Publication number: 20140292045
    Abstract: A mechanism in which comprises of the assembly of a slide and a track. A seat is to be attached to a slide, and a track to be attached to a vehicle or a base for a child seat. The seat attached to a slide will move along the length of the track in response to a forceful change in velocity through the inertia and/or momentum applied from the mass of the object(s) attached to the slide. A braking mechanism can be used to slow the change in velocity while the slide is moving along the track. Multiple slide and track assemblies may be used together to give motion in multiple axes. The mechanism has the ability to be designed with a slide attached to the vehicle and a track attached to the seat. For ease of understanding, references to the mechanism herein disclosed will be to a mechanism which is designed for a track to be attached to the vehicle and a slide attached to the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventor: Daniel Halterman Jeffery
  • Patent number: 8844966
    Abstract: A vehicle seat of a motor vehicle is provided. The vehicle seat comprises a backrest which includes a middle part and at least one side bolster, a gas bag module with a folded gas bag, which is at least partly arranged in the side bolster, an adjusting element for adjusting a width of the backrest, which is at least partly arranged in the side bolster and is movable relative to the middle part, by means of which the position of the side bolster relative to the middle part can be varied, and ascot frame extending in the side bolster, which in the vehicle seat mounted in the motor vehicle is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. At least part of the folded gas bag is arranged before the seat frame with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Takata AG
    Inventors: Jens Feller, Torsten Schmidt, Peter Baumgartner, Thomas Steck
  • Patent number: 8845019
    Abstract: A folding type seat of the present invention includes a body section supporting bracket, supporting a body section of a reclining mechanism, and a passive section supporting bracket, supporting a passive section of the reclining mechanism, which are located inward of external surfaces of a seat cushion or a seat back at positions spaced therefrom by predetermined distances. At least one of the brackets is provided with an impact absorbing section, which is caused to deform for absorbing impact energy imparted to a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tamotsu Sawada
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140265470
    Abstract: A seat structure for a vehicle of the present invention comprises a seat cushion frame, slide mechanisms including a pair of guide rails provided at a vehicle floor and a pair of sliders, a pair of connecting members connecting the pair of sliders and the seat cushion frame, a connection position of the connecting members and the seat cushion frame being located inward in a seat width direction relative to a connection position of the connecting members and the sliders, and a coupling member coupling the pair of connecting members in a vehicle width direction so as to restrain the pair of connecting members from moving inward in the seat width direction in a rear-end collision of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi SUZUKI, Kouichi NAKAYA, Shin SAKAI, Katsunori MONDEN, Tsutomu MARUYAMA, Hirotaka MATSUMURA, Yoshitaka TANAKA
  • 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: 8833850
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including a rod installed between left and right side frames of a seat cushion, wherein the rod is provided with a weakened part which is configured to promote the buckling distortion of the rod in a predetermined direction, wherein the weakened part includes first and second weakened portions which respectively weakens a portion of a surface of the rod facing a first direction and a portion of a surface of the rod facing a second direction opposite to the first direction at an end portion of a side of the rod to which an impact load is inputted, so that the rod is configured to be bent in the first direction and the second direction, and wherein the first weakened portion is formed closer to the side to which the impact load is inputted than the second weakened portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuya Suzuki, Shinya Ando, Takushi Matsumoto, Kosuke Araki, Masato Kunisada, Keiichiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 8827360
    Abstract: A seat back of a vehicle seat includes a side frame member, an upper frame member, and a lower frame member. A headrest has a headrest main body and a frame. The frame has a stay portion and an inner portion. A line of intersection between a first plane and a second plane is positioned farther forward than the upper frame member, and a first angle is less than a second angle. The first plane is an extended plane of a front surface of an upper portion of the inner portion, and the second plane is a plane that contacts front surfaces of the upper frame member and the lower frame member. The first angle is an angle between the first and the second planes, and the second angle is an angle between a center line of a neck and a torso line of a dummy seated in the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taiyo Otsuka
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140232151
    Abstract: A system for protecting the legs of an occupant positioned in a seat of a vehicle from an explosive force originating under a floor of the vehicle. The system includes a movable bolster configured to move to contact the legs of the occupant and cause the feet of the occupant to move away from the floor of the vehicle. The system also includes a module positioned proximate the seat of the vehicle and including a movable rod linked to the bolster, wherein the module includes a gas generator configured to be activated to generate gas used to force the rod to move. The system also includes a controller that is configured to receive a signal from a vertical acceleration sensor and activate the gas generator when the signal from the sensor is indicative of a condition where the vertical acceleration of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Larry M. WILMOT, Paresh KHANDHADIA
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140217787
    Abstract: To provide a vehicle seat structure in which, when a pretensioner operates, parts at a pretensioner side interfering with parts disposed at a side of a seat cushion is suppressed. A vehicle seat structure has: a three-point seatbelt device that is configured to restrain a passenger by a shoulder webbing and a lap webbing; a lap outer side pretensioner that is connected to a distal end side portion of the lap webbing at a vehicle transverse direction outer side with respect to a seat cushion, and that is fixed to an upper rail, and that, when a vehicle collision is detected or predicted, forcibly applied tension to the lap webbing; and an outer shield that covers, from a vehicle transverse direction outer side, the seat cushion together with the lap outer pretensioner and a portion of the lap webbing which portion includes a region connected to the lap outer pretensioner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 8752863
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly may include an air bag module having an inflatable air bag and a housing that receives the air bag. The housing has a main body that substantially encloses the air bag prior to inflation of the air bag, and an extension formed integrally with the main body. The extension is substantially enclosed by the main body prior to inflation of the air bag, and the extension has an end. Upon inflation of the air bag, the end of the extension is configured to extend outside the main body such that the end extends between the air bag and a component of the seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Festag, Michael Tracht
  • Patent number: 8746792
    Abstract: An energy management load limiting vehicle seat member or construction is shown with collision energy absorbing and anti-submarining features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Ruthinowski, Ian Brewster Hall, Parakrama V. Weerappuli, Brian Robert Spahn, Kevin Siasoco
  • Patent number: 8733832
    Abstract: An apparatus includes groove-shaped thin portions, of which the length direction is in a vertical direction, that are provided at predetermined intervals in the front-back direction in front of a hip point of a seat side garnish. When an impacting body impacts the seat side garnish and a load is applied to the seat side garnish, first, stress concentrates at the thin portions, and then the area between the thin portion and the thin portion of the seat side garnish, and the area between the thin portion and the thin portion of the seat side garnish deforms so as to move inward in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the seat cushion will readily rise up in front of the hip point, and is thus able to be prevented or suppressed from rising up at the hip point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Fukawatase
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140117728
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a seat structure member including a seat back and a seat cushion; and a support member configured to support the seat structure member and fastened to a vehicle compartment structural body, wherein the support member is a flat plate member which elongates in a longitudinal direction and has a convex bead portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the support member, wherein the bead portion includes a first bead portion and a second bead portion, and a stress concentrating portion of the support member, to which stress is configured to concentrate when vehicle collision occurs, is interposed between the first bead portion and the second bead portion, and wherein the stress concentrating portion of the support member includes a weakened portion configured to promote breakage of the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi NAKANISHI, Masatoshi TOYAMA, Toshio MURAKAMI, Yuji MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 8702123
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat frame, a first air-bag unit and a second air-bag unit. The seat frame is at least partially covered by a padding material and substantially covered by a cover. The first air-bag unit includes a first air-bag mounted within an outboard side of the seat, and substantially covered by the cover. The second air-bag unit includes a second air-bag mounted within the outboard side of the seat and substantially covered by the cover. The first air-bag is configured to inflate and burst through the cover, when activated, and to bear against an occupant of the seat sitting in a normal position in the seat, thereby exerting a pushing force against the occupant in an inboard direction. The second air-bag is configured to inflate and burst through the cover when activated, and to occupy a position between an occupant of the seat and an exterior side wall of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Jan Mazanek, Par Sandinge, Fredrik Kjell, Palo Anders
  • Patent number: 8702121
    Abstract: In an airbag inflatable inside a seating portion of a vehicle's seat, the design flexibility, in terms of shape and height, of the airbag in an inflated state is increased. An airbag device (1) includes an airbag (10) and an inflator (2). The airbag (10) is disposed inside a seating portion of a seat and is inflated under a seated occupant. The inflator (2) generates gas to inflate and deploy the airbag (10). The airbag (10) includes an upper base fabric piece (11), a lower base fabric piece (12), and a pair of side base fabric pieces (13), which are joined to one another and form an air chamber (14) therein. The pair of side base fabric pieces (13) are disposed at part of side portions between the upper base fabric piece (11) and the lower base fabric piece (12) and define the shape of the air chamber (14) in an inflated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamashita, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Tadaaki Sekino
  • Patent number: 8702120
    Abstract: An active bolster is integrated within a seat for a transportation vehicle by covering an inner inflatable bladder with an outer cushion layer to provide a seating support surface. Seating loads are borne on the support surface from the weight of an occupant by elastic deformation of the bladder. When a vehicle crash event is detected, at least a portion of the bladder is inflated to extend a seat surface to protect the occupant. Size and weight of the seat are reduced as a result of the bladder contributing significantly to the normal cushioning of the seat in everyday usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond E. Kalisz, Johnathan A. Line, Michael J. Whitens, Dana M. Niemiec
  • Publication number: 20140103626
    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: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Seki, Takaya Kurisu, Kenichi Niitsuma
  • Patent number: 8684464
    Abstract: A locking mechanism (1) for a vehicle seat, particularly for a motor vehicle seat, includes a latch (11) that is to be interlocked with an opposite element (B) and is mounted to be pivotable about a first bearing bolt (13), and at least one securing element (25, 31) that secures the latch (11) in the locked state. A cap (17) which rests on the latch (11) covers at least part of the edge of a hook opening of the latch (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Müller, Olaf Kreuels, Stefan Haber, Volker Windecker, Denise Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8678465
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for an energy attenuating seat assembly with multi-axis energy attenuation. In one embodiment the seat assembly comprises a seat with a back, a first energy attenuating support comprising a first seat guide, and a first energy attenuating link, the first energy attenuating support operatively disposed in a first direction with respect to the seat. The exemplary seat assembly further comprises a second energy attenuating support comprising a second seat guide, and a second energy attenuating link, the second energy attenuating support operatively disposed in a second direction with respect to the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Armorworks Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Loren K. Aragon, Terry Wilhelm, D. Brent Noel, Joshua Platt
  • 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: 8678495
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided comprising: a seat back frame having a side frame; a headrest for supporting a head of a seat occupant; a load receiving member disposed behind the seat occupant and movable rearward in response to a load from the seat occupant; and a link member mounted to the seat back frame and rearwardly movable; wherein: a rearward movement of the load receiving member moves the link member rearward and reduces a distance between the head of the seat occupant and the headrest; the load receiving member is provided with a first through-hole and a second through-hole; and the first through-hole and the second through-hole are disposed in a same horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Misao Omori, Kenichi Niitsuma
  • Publication number: 20140070577
    Abstract: A vehicle seating system is provided that includes a first link having a first end rotatably coupled to a base, and a second link having a first end rotatably coupled to the base. The vehicle seating system also includes a main tube extending between a second end of the first link and a second end of the second link. The main tube is configured to transfer torque between the first and second links. The vehicle seating system further includes an energy management feature configured to facilitate rotation of the first link relative to the second link if a torque applied to the main tube exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventor: Zbigniew Paluch
  • Patent number: 8662530
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly according to the present disclosure includes an air bag module having a front and a side, and the air bag module includes an inflatable air bag and a rigid cover at least partially covering the air bag. The rigid cover may include a protection portion that extends at least partially along the side of the air bag module. The protection portion has an end spaced away from the front of the air bag module. The seat assembly further includes a seat pad disposed outside of the air bag module, and a trim cover positioned over the seat pad. In at least one embodiment, upon inflation of the air bag, the end of the protection portion is configured to move forwardly such that the protection portion extends between the seat pad and the air bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Festag, Michael Tracht
  • Patent number: 8662483
    Abstract: A shock absorber for vehicle seat is provided. The shock absorber is suspended on a seat frame so as to elastically support a pad. The shock absorber includes: a plurality of wires that are disposed in parallel to the seat frame, both ends of the wires being locked to the seat frame; and a resinous member that connects the wires to each other, the resinous member having a bent portion, wherein the resinous member is elastically deformable in a direction in which the wires are opposed each other in accordance with a deformation of the bent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigetomo Yamaguchi, Masayuki Kitou, Toshiyuki Ario, Ryuji Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8657372
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including at least two components connected, directly or indirectly, by an adjustment mechanism. A locking means is provided, arranged to lock the two components relative to each other when predetermined conditions are experienced, to restrict relative movement of the two components. The locking means may be arranged to engage when a vehicle in which the seat is mounted is involved in an impact. The locking means reduces the amount of relative movement of seat components owing to compliance in seat adjustment mechanism in the event of a vehicle impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Bentley Motors Limited
    Inventors: Steve Macmanus, Andrew Downie, Paul Sharman, Nicholas Stapleton
  • Patent number: 8646562
    Abstract: A seat for a vehicle in which, when the vehicle has a side collision, pressing against a side support portion of a seat cushion by a vehicle body side portion and deformation of the side support portion to the upper side may be suppressed, and in which excellent seating comfort of the seat cushion may be maintained. At a rear seat, when a door trim (32) of a rear side door (30) collides with a side support portion (16A) due to an impact load F of a side collision, a dilatant member (46) provided at the side support portion (16A) hardens instantly. As a result, deformation of the side support portion (16A) is suppressed, and deformation of the side support portion (16A) to the upper side may be suppressed. Therefore, a waist area chamber (28B) of a rear side airbag (28) may be caused to deploy between the waist area of a seat occupant (14) and the door trim (32) as intended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Fukawatase, Takehisa Shamoto
  • Patent number: 8641140
    Abstract: A vehicle safety seat (104, 202, 302, 502, 802) includes a seat bottom (120, 210, 310, 504, 810) that is movable substantially instantly from a substantially horizontal normal orientation for normal traveling to a deployed angled orientation contemporaneously with a vehicle crash. The deployed safety seat shifts a seat occupant (102) into a protective posture to reduce accelerations, loads and moments of force on various parts of the occupant's body. In preferred embodiments, the seat bottom is deployed into its angled orientation by lowering the rear (124, 312, 507, 812) of the seat bottom, causing the seat bottom to pivot about a front pivot (174, 220, 320, 518, 820) at the front of the seat bottom. Typically, a vehicle safety seat includes a backrest (130, 240, 360, 550, 840). In some embodiments, a backrest (130, 240, 360, 550) is movable downwards and/or rearwards simultaneously with movement of the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Inventor: Richard Swierczewski
  • Patent number: 8641141
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (1), in particular commercial vehicle seat, is provided with a framework, in particular scissors-type framework (3), a seat frame (10) which is articulated thereon via a pivot axis (B), and a backrest (20) which is attached to the seat frame (10) and by means of which a torque acts about the pivot axis (B) on the seat frame (10) in the event of a crash or misuse. The framework (3) has a first catch element (31) and the seat frame (10) has a second catch element (32) which normally do not interact. In the event of a crash or misuse, the catch elements approach each other and then interact creating a further path for the force flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Hassler, Rüdiger Nissen, Thorsten Schweizer, Thomas Gundall, Harald Klein, Thomas Weber
  • Publication number: 20140001799
    Abstract: An active bolster is integrated within a seat for a transportation vehicle by covering an inner inflatable bladder with an outer cushion layer to provide a seating support surface. Seating loads are borne on the support surface from the weight of an occupant by elastic deformation of the bladder. When a vehicle crash event is detected, at least a portion of the bladder is inflated to extend a seat surface to protect the occupant. Size and weight of the seat are reduced as a result of the bladder contributing significantly to the normal cushioning of the seat in everyday usage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond E. Kalisz, Johnathan A. Line, Michael J. Whitens, Dana M. Niemiec
  • Patent number: 8620526
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a motor vehicle traveling on a roadway. The method includes, but is not limited to determining data of the roadway in the area, which includes determining a number n of lanes. If it is determined that n?2, it is determined whether a lane in which the vehicle is located with data of an optical camera of the motor vehicle. In addition, it is determined whether a second motor vehicle is traveling in the lane, in which the motor vehicle is located, in a direction of travel opposite a first direction of travel with a determination apparatus of the motor vehicle. If a second motor vehicle is determined, a warning message and/or automatic actuation is generated from an apparatus of the motor vehicle (e.g, a braking apparatus, a drive apparatus, or a steering apparatus).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Oliver Schepp, Ingobert Lassrich, Ali Khanafer, Oliver Wagner
  • Patent number: 8616579
    Abstract: A side airbag capable of fully absorbing impact directed to a chest region while keeping an arm from being pressed against the chest region due to inflation is provided. A side airbag 30, an arm facing section 38 which faces an arm H2 of the occupant H in an inflated state has a dented shape and serves to push up the arm H2 to a position where the arm H2 does not overlap a chest H3 region of the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jodosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Suzuki, Naoki Fujisawa
  • 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20130334847
    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: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Enoki, Masahide Sawada
  • Publication number: 20130328364
    Abstract: The aircraft seat, the aircraft including a cabin equipped with a floor exhibiting lines of points for fastening seats generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aircraft, includes a seat bucket that is integral by its seatback with a single beam oriented along an axis that is approximately perpendicular to the floor, which beam is integral with fastening points located on at least two separate lines on the floor of the cabin of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Laurent CECINAS, Julien NORMANDIN, Remy BARRE, Lionel BACQUEY
  • Publication number: 20130328363
    Abstract: An adjustment mechanism, particularly for the longitudinal adjustment of a seat of a motor vehicle, with a transmission housing (30) fastened at a first part (10), which is displaceable in reference to a second part (12), with a transmission being arranged inside the transmission housing (30). A spindle (40) projects from the transmission housing (30). The spindle (40) is coupled via a nut element (50) to a second part (12). The transmission housing (30) is made from plastic, with at least one repeatedly angled metal insert (60, 70) being embedded in the plastic. At least one wall (60b) of the metal insert (60, 70) is aligned orthogonal in reference to the axis (A) of the spindle and at least partially encompasses the spindle (40) on the side of the transmission housing (60) allocated to the nut element (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicants: C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG, IMS Gear GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Urban, Robert Landskron, Arif Karadag, Wolfram Hofschulte, Fred Krimmel
  • 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: 8600626
    Abstract: There is provided a headrest apparatus including: a headrest main body provided at a top edge portion of a seatback; a detection section to detect contact between the head of an occupant seated in the seat and the headrest main body; a moving section that moves the headrest main body in the vehicle front-rear direction; and a controller that controls the moving section such that the headrest main body is moved forward until contact between the head of an occupant and the headrest main body is detected by the detection section, and, when contact between the head of an occupant and the headrest main body has been detected by the detection section, controls the moving section to move the headrest main body such that there is a specific amount of back-set separation distance in a horizontal direction between the head of an occupant and the headrest main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Yamaguchi, Makoto Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8596715
    Abstract: A headrest device comprises a headrest body which includes a headrest rear portion supported with respect to a seatback of a seat on which a passenger of a vehicle sits, and a headrest front portion that is movable within a predetermined range from a fully closed position that is closest to the headrest rear portion to a fully open position that is farthest from the headrest rear portion; a detection unit which detects a running state or an operation state of the vehicle; a prediction unit which predicts a possibility of a rear vehicle collision with the vehicle on the basis of the running state or the operation state of the vehicle detected by detection unit; and a control unit which controls, in a case in which the possibility of the rear vehicle collision is predicted by the prediction unit, movement of a position of the headrest front portion so that a backset becomes smaller than a backset at the time of the prediction, the backset being a horizontal distance between the headrest front portion and a head
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Yamaguchi, Kenzou Yasuda, Makoto Hasegawa, Takeshi Ito, Eiji Shimizu, Satoshi Nishikido
  • Patent number: 8590966
    Abstract: A vibration damper for a vehicle seat back is disclosed. The vibration damper includes an enclosure provided inside the upper end of a vehicle seat back. The enclosure includes a plurality of projections, preferably in the form of spaced apart, vertically extending pins, extending from one or more interior walls of the enclosure. A non-newtonian stress thickening fluid is provided within the enclosure. When the seat back is at rest the stress thickening fluid is free flowing within the enclosure. When the seat back is moved the stress thickening fluid is acted upon by the walls of the enclosure, the internally mounted pins, or both. As the walls and pins push on the fluid it comes under shear stress which causes the fluid to harden. As the pins pass through the hardened fluid they absorb energy and dampen the motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David William Gaines, Peter T. Mueller
  • 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