Vehicle seat

Abstract

A vehicle seat according to the present invention includes a base to be fixed to a floor of a vehicle, a seat frame above the base, a front link, a reclining link, and a reclining drive mechanism to adjust a reclining angle of the seat frame. The vehicle seat also includes a bracket mounted to the base and extending from a front side to a rear side of the base. One end of the front link is pivotally connected to the seat frame at a front side of the seat frame, and the other end is pivotally connected to one end of the reclining link. The other end of the reclining link is pivotally connected to a front portion of the bracket. The reclining drive mechanism is configured to rotate the reclining link about the pivotal connection of the reclining link to the bracket. According to the present invention, an energy absorbing slot is formed in the bracket, the reclining link is pivotally connected to the energy absorbing slot with a predetermined holding force, and the reclining link is slidable along the energy absorbing slot when a force exceeding the predetermined holding force is applied. The vehicle seat according to the present invention can achieve collision energy absorption and occupant protection, and is simple in construction and light in weight.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicles, and more particularly to vehicle seats, especially zero-gravity vehicle seats. Background Technology

[0002] As vehicle occupants demand higher levels of comfort, more and more vehicles, especially new energy vehicles, are equipped with zero-gravity vehicle seats. Consequently, the safety requirements for zero-gravity vehicle seats during large tilt angles while the vehicle is in motion are also increasing.

[0003] To improve safety, Integrated Seat Belts (ABTS) technology has been developed. This technology utilizes a retractor fixed to the seat back to lock the seatbelt in a collision, ensuring the seat back angle conforms to the occupant's posture, thus providing effective protection. While ABTS is suitable as a protective measure for occupants in zero-gravity vehicle seats, the energy generated during a collision is still very high, requiring a very heavy and robust vehicle seat to withstand this energy. Furthermore, when occupants are in a zero-gravity position or a relaxed sitting position, the angles of their thighs and torso are greater than in a normal sitting position. This results in significant forces acting on the occupant's spine, chest, lower back, abdomen, shoulders, and neck during a collision. To avoid this risk, during a collision, the vehicle seat should pivot to allow the occupant to return to a normal sitting position. This is generally achieved through the pre-collision protection function of the vehicle seat. Alternatively, the vehicle seat should pivot to allow the occupant's thigh / torso angle to gradually return to / decrease to a normal angle, allowing the occupant to return to a normal sitting position. This is generally achieved by using passive collision-absorbing elements in the vehicle seat.

[0004] Lear Corporation has developed a vehicle seat that uses a gearbox and a spindle, with the spindle pivot point utilizing a collapsible sliding nut to absorb impact energy.

[0005] Yanfeng has also developed a vehicle seat that uses an adjuster mechanism for zero-gravity functionality, employing a gear-driven mechanism and dynamic signal cables to lock and unlock the adjuster. When the adjuster disengages during a collision, a friction disc absorbs the impact energy.

[0006] The disadvantages of the aforementioned energy-absorbing structure are that there is a risk of damage to the gearbox or drive mechanism during a collision. Furthermore, if the energy-absorbing mechanism is activated due to misoperation, it becomes unusable. There is a need to improve existing vehicle seats. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of this invention is to provide an improved vehicle seat that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of existing vehicle seats.

[0008] According to the present invention, a vehicle seat, particularly a zero-gravity vehicle seat, is provided, specifically a seat frame comprising a base to be fixed to a vehicle floor, a seat frame located above the base, a front link, a tilt adjustment link, a rear link, and a tilt adjustment drive mechanism for adjusting the tilt angle of the seat frame. Furthermore, the vehicle seat includes a bracket mounted on the base, which is, for example, plate-shaped, extending from the front side of the base to the rear side. One end of the front link is pivotally connected to the seat frame at the front side, and the other end is pivotally connected to one end of the tilt adjustment link. The other end of the tilt adjustment link is pivotally connected to the front portion of the bracket. One end of the rear link is pivotally connected to the rear portion of the bracket, and the other end is pivotally connected to the seat frame at the rear side. The tilt adjustment drive mechanism is configured to drive the tilt adjustment link to rotate about its pivot point with the bracket. According to an embodiment, the bracket has an energy absorption slot, and the tilt adjustment link is pivotally connected to the energy absorption slot with a predetermined holding force. When subjected to a force exceeding the predetermined holding force, the tilt adjustment link can slide along the energy absorption slot.

[0009] With this arrangement, the vehicle seat of the present invention only requires the addition of an energy-absorbing slot, without any additional components, to reduce the occupant's thigh / torso angle from a zero-gravity / relaxed position to a normal sitting position, while simultaneously achieving approximately 10-15 degrees of angular collapse and energy absorption during this process. Therefore, the vehicle seat of the present invention has a simple structure and is lightweight.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the base is constructed as a sliding rail. This arrangement allows for fore-and-aft adjustment of the vehicle seat.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the pivot point of the tilt adjustment link and the energy absorption slot is provided with a pivot, which is held in the energy absorption slot, and the pivot can slide along the energy absorption slot when subjected to a holding force exceeding a predetermined force.

[0012] According to an embodiment, as the tilt adjustment link slides from one end to the other along the energy absorption slot, the tilt adjustment link rotates about 10-15 degrees about its pivot point with the front link.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the energy-absorbing slot is configured to extend downwards from the front to the rear. This arrangement allows for a large rotation angle of the tilt adjustment link within a limited length.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the energy-absorbing slot has a front end, a rear end, and a middle section, with the middle section transitioning to both the front and rear ends via a necking transition. This arrangement allows the pivot of the tilt adjustment link to be firmly held within the energy-absorbing slot before a collision. During a frontal collision, the pivot of the tilt adjustment link overcomes the holding force and slides along the energy-absorbing slot from one end, gradually dissipating collision energy during this sliding motion. Furthermore, upon sliding to the other end during a frontal collision, the pivot of the tilt adjustment link is ultimately locked firmly back into the energy-absorbing slot. Simultaneously, the vehicle seat returns from a zero-gravity position to a normal seating position. This achieves collision energy absorption and occupant protection.

[0015] Preferably, the front and rear ends of the energy absorption slot are constructed in a circular shape.

[0016] Preferably, the walls of the energy-absorbing slot are lined with friction elements. This arrangement enables the gradual absorption of collision energy as the device slides along the energy-absorbing slot.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the tilt adjustment drive mechanism includes a main shaft motor arranged in a direction perpendicular to the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle seat; and a lead screw meshing with the output end of the main shaft motor, wherein the main shaft motor is mounted on the tilt adjustment linkage, and one end of the lead screw is pivotally mounted on the front of the bracket, wherein rotation of the output end of the main shaft motor causes it to move along the lead screw, driving the tilt adjustment linkage to rotate about its pivot point with respect to the bracket. A stop is provided at the other end of the lead screw to limit the travel limit of the main shaft motor along the lead screw, or it is configured as a free end, and the travel limit is set by an electronic control unit.

[0018] According to a specific embodiment, the pivot point of the front link and the seat frame is located in front of the energy-absorbing slot. In this arrangement, in the steep tilt position, the pivot remains at the front end of the energy-absorbing slot; in the normal seating position, the pivot remains at the rear end of the energy-absorbing slot. From the steep tilt position to the normal seating position, the front link and the lead screw rotate rearward about their pivot points with the tilt adjustment link and with the support, respectively.

[0019] According to another specific embodiment, the pivot point of the front link and the seat frame is located behind the energy-absorbing slot. In this arrangement, in the steep tilt position, the pivot is held at the rear end of the energy-absorbing slot, and in the normal seating position, the pivot is held at the front end of the energy-absorbing slot. From the steep tilt position to the normal seating position, the front link and the lead screw rotate forward about their pivot points with the tilt adjustment link and with the support, respectively.

[0020] According to the present invention, the vehicle seat, through the aforementioned energy-absorbing slot, returns the vehicle seat from a large-angle tilt position to a normal sitting position during a collision, thereby allowing the occupant to return from a zero-gravity position to a normal sitting position, thus compensating for the deficiencies of the ABTS function. Furthermore, by employing the aforementioned energy-absorbing mechanism, the vehicle seat is lightweight and sufficiently robust to withstand collision energy, thereby effectively protecting the occupant.

[0021] According to the present invention, the vehicle seat moves along the energy absorption slot via an angle adjustment link, causing it to rotate about its pivot point with the front link, achieving a collapse of approximately 10-15 degrees (as needed), allowing the occupant's thigh / torso angle to return from a zero-gravity position / relaxed position to a normal sitting position.

[0022] According to the vehicle seat of the present invention, the energy absorption slot can be designed to be bidirectionally activated to suit the screw angle / kinematics of the vehicle seat in both zero-gravity and normal sitting positions.

[0023] According to the vehicle seat of the present invention, the energy-absorbing slot can be activated under a predetermined pivoting force to absorb collision energy during a collision. Furthermore, during normal use of the vehicle seat, the pivot of the tilt adjustment linkage can be used as a normal pivot point.

[0024] The vehicle seat according to the present invention avoids the risk of damage to the gearbox / drive mechanism as in existing solutions, thereby enabling the required energy absorption during a collision. Furthermore, if the energy-absorbing slot is activated by misuse, the vehicle seat can be returned to its normal position simply by returning the pivot of the tilt adjustment linkage along the energy-absorbing slot to its original position. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0026] Figure 1 This is a side view of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the vehicle seat is in a large-angle tilt position, i.e., a zero-gravity position;

[0027] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The vehicle shown is a side view with the seats in a normal sitting position.

[0028] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A close-up view of the vehicle seat shown;

[0029] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A close-up view of the vehicle seat shown;

[0030] Figure 5 Details of the energy absorption slot are shown;

[0031] Figure 6 This is a side view of a vehicle seat according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the vehicle seat is in a large-angle tilt position, i.e., a zero-gravity position;

[0032] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 The vehicle shown is a side view with the seats in a normal sitting position.

[0033] Figure 8 yes Figure 6 The image shows a partial enlarged view of the vehicle seat; and

[0034] Figure 9 yes Figure 7 The image shows a close-up view of the vehicle seat.

[0035] In the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the invention are shown in a simplified manner for clarity. The drawings are not necessarily shown to scale. Similar reference numerals in the drawings denote similar parts. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The following will combine Figure 1-9 The embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail below. For ease of description, directional terms are used in the specification, which refer to the orientation shown in the figures; the actual orientation may be different.

[0037] The following examples refer to a zero-gravity vehicle seat. It is conceivable that other types of vehicle seats are also possible.

[0038] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A zero-gravity vehicle seat 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, specifically a seat frame including a base 110 with a slide rail structure, a seat frame 120 located above the base, a front link 130, a tilt adjustment link 140, and a rear link 150, as well as a tilt adjustment drive mechanism 160 for adjusting the tilt angle of the seat frame 120. Furthermore, the vehicle seat 10 also includes a bracket 170 mounted on the base 110, which is plate-shaped and extends from the front to the rear of the base 110.

[0039] The base 110 is fixed to the vehicle floor and is constructed, for example, as a slide rail, allowing the seat frame 120 to slide along the rail via a front and rear drive mechanism (e.g., a drive motor, not shown) to achieve fore-and-aft adjustment of the vehicle seat. One end of the front link 130 is pivotally connected to the front of the seat frame 120, and the other end is pivotally connected to one end of the tilt adjustment link 140. The other end of the tilt adjustment link 140 is pivotally connected to the front of the bracket 170. One end of the rear link 150 is pivotally connected to the rear of the bracket 170, and the other end is pivotally connected to the rear of the seat frame 120. The tilt adjustment drive mechanism 160 drives the tilt adjustment link 140 to rotate about its pivot point with the bracket 170. In the case of a slide rail construction, the bracket 170 is mounted on the base 110 in a manner that allows it to slide along the rail, so as to move fore-and-aft together with the seat frame 120. Thus, the base 110 and the bracket 170, seat frame 120, front link 130, tilt adjustment link 140 and rear link 150 mounted on the base 110 constitute a five-bar linkage structure.

[0040] Each side of the vehicle seat 10 has a five-bar linkage, with three pivot points at the front: one end of the front linkage 130 pivotally connected to the seat frame 120, the other end pivotally connected to one end of the tilt adjustment linkage 140, and the other end pivotally connected to the front of the bracket 170. Two pivot points are located at the rear: an upper pivot point where the rear linkage 150 pivots to the rear side of the seat frame, and a lower pivot point located at the rear of the bracket 170. The rear linkage 150 connects the two rear pivot points. Two of the five pivot points are located at the upper part, and the edge of the seat frame 120 connects to the two upper pivot points.

[0041] The tilt adjustment drive mechanism 160 includes a main shaft motor 161 arranged in a direction perpendicular to the fore-aft direction of the vehicle seat 10; and a lead screw 162 meshing with the output end of the main shaft motor 162. The main shaft motor 161 is mounted on the tilt adjustment link 140. One end of the lead screw 162 is pivotally mounted at the front of the bracket 170, and rotation of the output end of the main shaft motor 161 causes it to move along the lead screw 162, thereby driving the tilt adjustment link 140 to rotate about its pivot point with respect to the bracket 170, thereby adjusting the tilt angle of the seat frame 120. The pivot point of the tilt adjustment link 140 is located between the pivot points of the lead screw 162 and the rear link 150 with respect to the bracket 170.

[0042] In this example, the tilt adjustment linkage 140 has a roughly L-shaped structure, and its pivot point, where it pivotally connects to the bracket 170, is provided with a pivot 141. See details... Figure 3 and Figure 4 .

[0043] Figures 1-4 It also shows that the support 170 has an energy absorption slot 171, which is an elongated structure that extends downwards from the front to the rear. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the energy-absorbing slot 171 has a front end 171A, a middle section 171B, and a rear end 171C. The middle section 171B transitions to the front and rear ends via a front constriction neck 171D and a rear constriction neck 171E, respectively. The front and rear ends of the energy-absorbing slot 171 are circularly shaped. Furthermore, friction elements 180 are installed on the slot walls of the energy-absorbing slot 171.

[0044] Figure 1 The vehicle seat 10 is in a highly tilted position, i.e., a zero-gravity position or a fully tilted position. Figure 2 The vehicle seat 10 is in a normal sitting position. Figure 3 and Figure 4 They were displayed respectively Figure 1 and Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of the image. For example... Figure 3 As shown, the pivot 141 of the tilt adjustment link 140 is pivotally connected to the energy absorption slot 171 with a predetermined holding force, such that during normal use of the vehicle seat, the pivot 141 of the tilt adjustment link 140 is firmly held at the front end 171A of the energy absorption slot 171. In the event of a collision, such as a frontal collision, the impact force causes the pivot 141 of the tilt adjustment link 140 to overcome the holding force of the energy absorption slot 171, sliding from the front end 171A through the forward retraction neck 171D, along the middle section 171B, and through the rear retraction neck 171E to the rear end 171C. At the rear end 171C, the pivot 141 is again firmly held in the energy absorption slot 171, as... Figure 4 As shown, as the pivot 141 moves, the tilt adjustment link 140 rotates about its pivot point with the front link 130, which in turn drives the front link 130 to rotate, thereby causing the seat frame 120 to return from a large tilt position to a normal sitting position.

[0045] In this example, as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the pivot point of the front link 130 and the seat frame 120 is located in front of the energy absorption slot 171. In this case, in the large tilt position, the pivot 141 is held at the front end 171A of the energy absorption slot 171, and in the normal sitting position, the pivot 141 is held at the rear end 171C of the energy absorption slot 171. From the large tilt position to the normal sitting position, the front link 130 and the lead screw 162 rotate rearward about their pivot points with the tilt adjustment link 140 and with the support 170, respectively.

[0046] Figure 6 and Figure 7A zero-gravity vehicle seat 10' according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown, including a base 110' with a slide rail structure, a seat frame 120' located above the base, a front link 130', a tilt adjustment link 140', and a rear link 150', as well as a tilt adjustment drive mechanism 160' for adjusting the tilt angle of the seat frame 120'. Furthermore, the vehicle seat 10' also includes a bracket 170' mounted on the base 110', which is plate-shaped and extends from the front to the rear of the base 110'. The construction of each component and their interconnections are as follows... Figure 1-4 The embodiments shown are the same.

[0047] Figure 6 and Figure 7 The vehicle floor 20' and leg support assembly 30' are also shown.

[0048] Figures 6-9 It also shows that the support 170' has an energy absorption slot 171', which is an elongated structure that extends downwards from the front to the rear. Figure 5 As shown, the energy-absorbing slot 171' has a front end 171A', a middle section 171B', and a rear end 171C'. The middle section 171B' transitions to the front and rear ends via a front constriction neck 171D' and a rear constriction neck 171E', respectively. The front and rear ends of the energy-absorbing slot 171' are rounded. Furthermore, friction elements 180' are installed on the slot walls of the energy-absorbing slot 171'.

[0049] In this example, the tilt adjustment linkage 140' is also roughly L-shaped, and its pivot point, where it pivotally connects to the bracket 170', is provided with a pivot 141'. See details. Figure 8 and Figure 9 .

[0050] Figure 6 The vehicle seat 10' is in a highly tilted position, i.e., a zero-gravity position or a fully tilted position. Figure 7 The vehicle seat 10' is in a normal sitting position. Figure 8 and Figure 9 They were displayed respectively Figure 6 and Figure 7 A magnified view of a portion of the image. For example... Figure 8As shown, the pivot 141' of the tilt adjustment link 140' is pivotally connected to the energy absorption slot 171' with a predetermined holding force, such that during normal use of the vehicle seat, the pivot 141' of the tilt adjustment link 140' is firmly held at the rear end 171C' of the energy absorption slot 171'. In the event of a collision, such as a frontal collision, the impact force causes the pivot 141' of the tilt adjustment link 140' to overcome the holding force of the energy absorption slot 171', sliding from the rear end 171C' through the rear retraction neck, along the middle section 171B', and through the front retraction neck to the front end 171A'. At the front end 171A', the pivot 141' is again firmly held in the energy absorption slot 171', as... Figure 9 As shown, as the pivot 141' moves, the tilt adjustment link 140' rotates about its pivot point with the front link 130', which in turn drives the front link 130' to rotate, thereby causing the seat frame 120' to return from a large tilt position to a normal sitting position.

[0051] In this example, the pivot point of the front link 130' and the seat frame 120' is located behind the energy absorption slot 171'. In this case, in the high-angle tilt position, the pivot 141' is held at the rear end 171C' of the energy absorption slot 171', and in the normal sitting position, the pivot 141' is held at the front end 171A' of the energy absorption slot 171'. From the high-angle tilt position to the normal sitting position, the front link 130' and the lead screw 162' rotate forward about their pivot points with the tilt adjustment link 140' and with the support 170', respectively.

[0052] In some cases, the features disclosed in this invention may be used independently of other features. On the other hand, when necessary, the features disclosed in this invention may be combined to provide various combinations.

[0053] As described above, embodiments of the present invention relate to zero-gravity vehicle seats. However, it is understood that the present invention can also be applied to other vehicle seats. The wording and expressions used in this invention are illustrative and not restrictive, and their use is not intended to exclude any equivalent examples of the illustrated and described features from the scope of the invention. Various modifications, variations, and substitutions may exist within the scope of the claims. The claims are intended to cover all such equivalent examples.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising a base to be fixed to a vehicle floor, a seat frame located above the base, a front link, a tilt adjustment link, and a tilt adjustment drive mechanism for adjusting the tilt angle of the seat frame, wherein the vehicle seat further comprises a bracket mounted on the base extending from the front side to the rear side of the base, wherein one end of the front link is pivotally connected to the seat frame at the front side, and the other end is pivotally connected to one end of the tilt adjustment link, the other end of the tilt adjustment link being pivotally connected to the front portion of the bracket, and wherein the tilt adjustment drive mechanism is configured to drive the tilt adjustment link to rotate about its pivot point with the bracket, characterized in that, The bracket has an energy absorption slot, and the tilt adjustment link is pivotally connected to the energy absorption slot with a predetermined holding force. When subjected to a force exceeding the predetermined holding force, the tilt adjustment link can slide along the energy absorption slot.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tilt adjustment link and the pivot point of the energy absorption slot are provided with a pivot, which is held in the energy absorption slot, and when subjected to a holding force exceeding a predetermined force, the pivot can slide along the energy absorption slot.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that... As the tilt adjustment link slides from one end to the other along the energy absorption slot, the tilt adjustment link rotates about 10-15 degrees around its pivot point with the front link.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The energy absorption slot is constructed to extend downwards from the front to the rear.

5. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that... The energy absorption slot has a front end, a rear end, and a middle section, with the middle section transitioning to the front and rear ends via a constriction.

6. The vehicle seat according to claim 5, characterized in that, The front and rear ends of the energy absorption slot are constructed in a circular shape.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that... The walls of the energy absorption slot are lined with friction elements.

8. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The tilt adjustment drive mechanism includes a main shaft motor arranged in a direction perpendicular to the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle seat; and a lead screw meshing with the output end of the main shaft motor, wherein the main shaft motor is mounted on the tilt adjustment linkage, and one end of the lead screw is pivotally mounted on the front of the bracket, wherein rotation of the output end of the main shaft motor causes it to move along the lead screw, thereby driving the tilt adjustment linkage to rotate about its pivot point with respect to the bracket.

9. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The pivot point between the front linkage and the seat frame is located in front of the energy absorption slot.

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The pivot point between the front linkage and the seat frame is located behind the energy absorption slot.

11. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The vehicle seats are zero-gravity vehicle seats.

12. The vehicle seat according to claim 11, characterized in that, The vehicle seat can move between a zero-gravity position and a normal sitting position. In the zero-gravity position, the tilt adjustment lever is held at one end of the energy absorption slot, and in the normal sitting position, the tilt adjustment lever is held at the other end of the energy absorption slot.

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