Seat backrest frame for impact deformation

Abstract

This application relates to a seat back frame for impact deformation. The seat back frame is provided with a plurality of upright members and at least one transverse member interconnecting the plurality of upright members. At least one of the plurality of upright members has a weak area to control the deformation of the seat back frame in the event of an impact.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Various embodiments relate to a seat back frame designed to control deformation in the event of an impact. Background

[0002] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2021 / 0188143 A1 to Pistilli et al. (issued to Lear Corporation on June 24, 2021) discloses a vehicle seat assembly with impact energy management.

[0003] Overview

[0004] According to an embodiment, a seat back frame is provided with a plurality of upright members and at least one transverse member interconnecting the plurality of upright members. At least one of the plurality of upright members has a weak area to control the deformation of the seat back frame in the event of an impact.

[0005] According to a further embodiment, the weak area is formed at an intermediate position along the length of at least one of the plurality of upright members.

[0006] According to another further embodiment, at least one of the plurality of upright members has a substantially uniform cross-section along its length. The cross-section of the weak area is smaller than the substantially uniform cross-section.

[0007] According to another further embodiment, at least one of the plurality of upright members has a tubular cross-section. The weak area is flattened.

[0008] According to a still further embodiment, the flattened weak area faces the rear direction of the seat back frame.

[0009] According to another further embodiment, at least one of the plurality of upright members is further provided with a structural wire. The weak area is bent relative to the length of the structural wire.

[0010] According to another further embodiment, the plurality of upright members are further provided with outer upright members and at least one inner upright member laterally spaced apart from the outer upright members. The weak area is formed in at least one of the inner upright members.

[0011] According to a still further embodiment, the weak area is not formed in the outer upright members.

[0012] According to another further embodiment, the plurality of upright members are further provided with outer upright members and a plurality of inner upright members, each inner upright member being laterally spaced apart from the outer upright members. The weak area is formed in each of the plurality of inner upright members.

[0013] According to another embodiment, the seat assembly is provided with a seat back frame having a plurality of upright members and at least one transverse member interconnecting the plurality of upright members. At least one of the plurality of upright members has a weak region to control the deformation of the seat back frame in the event of an impact. The plurality of upright members further include outer upright members and at least one inner upright member that is laterally spaced apart from the outer upright members. The weak region is formed in at least one of the inner upright members. The latch mechanism is attached to the seat back frame at the outer upright member or at least one transverse member adjacent to the outer upright member.

[0014] According to another embodiment, the seat assembly is provided with a seat back frame having a plurality of upright members and at least one transverse member interconnecting the plurality of upright members. At least one of the plurality of upright members has a weak region to control the deformation of the seat back frame in the event of an impact. The plurality of upright members further include outer upright members and a plurality of inner upright members, each inner upright member being laterally spaced apart from the outer upright members. The weak region is formed in each of the plurality of inner upright members. The latch mechanism is attached to the seat back frame at the outer upright member or at least one transverse member adjacent to the outer upright member.

[0015] According to another embodiment, a seat assembly is provided with a seat back frame having a plurality of upright members and at least one transverse member interconnecting the plurality of upright members. At least one of the plurality of upright members has a weak region to control the deformation of the seat back frame in the event of an impact. The latch mechanism is attached to the seat back frame at an outer upright member among the plurality of upright members or at least one transverse member adjacent to the outer upright member. The weak region is formed in an inner upright member that is laterally spaced apart from the outer upright member.

[0016] According to another embodiment, a seat assembly is provided with a seat back frame having outer upright members. At least one inner upright member is laterally spaced apart from the outer upright members. At least one transverse member interconnects the outer upright members and the at least one inner upright member. The latch mechanism is attached to the seat back frame at the outer upright member or at least one transverse member adjacent to the outer upright member. At least one of the inner upright members has a weak region to control the deformation of the seat assembly in the event of an impact.

[0017] According to a further embodiment, at least one of the inner upright members further includes a plurality of inner upright members, each inner upright member being laterally spaced apart from the outer upright members. The weak region is formed in each of the plurality of inner upright members.

[0018] According to another further embodiment, the weak region is formed at an intermediate position along the length of at least one of the inner upright members.

[0019] According to yet another further embodiment, at least one inner upright member has a tubular cross-section. The weak area is flattened.

[0020] According to a further embodiment, the flattened weak area faces the rear direction of the seat assembly.

[0021] According to another further embodiment, at least one inner upright member is also provided with structural filaments. The weak area is curved relative to the length of the structural filaments.

[0022] According to another further embodiment, the weak area is not formed in the outer upright members.

[0023] According to another embodiment, a seat assembly is provided with a seat back frame having outer upright members, a plurality of inner upright members laterally spaced from the outer upright members, and at least one transverse member interconnecting the outer upright members and the plurality of inner upright members. A latch mechanism is attached to the seat back frame at the outer upright members or at at least one transverse member adjacent to the outer upright members. Each of the plurality of inner upright members has a weak area at an intermediate portion along its length to control the deformation of the seat assembly in the event of an impact. The weak area is not formed in the outer upright members. At least one of the plurality of inner upright members has a tubular cross-section. The weak area of the tubular inner upright member facing the rear direction of the seat assembly is flattened. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a seat assembly according to an embodiment;

[0025] Figure 2 shows a partially disassembled Figure 1 front side elevation view of the seat assembly;

[0026] Figure 3 is Figure 1 rear side elevation view of the seat assembly;

[0027] Figure 4 is Figure 1 magnified partial front perspective view of a part of the seat assembly;

[0028] Figure 5 shows a Figure 1 seat assembly with cargo before an impact situation, right side elevation view;

[0029] Figure 6 shows a Figure 1 seat assembly with cargo during an impact situation, right side elevation view;

[0030] Figure 7 is Figure 1 an enlarged partial right side elevation view of the seat assembly during an impact condition of Figure 6 ;

[0031] Figure 8 is a rear side elevation view showing the seat assembly of Figure 1 after an impact condition of Figure 6 ;

[0032] Figure 9 is a partial right side elevation view showing the seat assembly of Figure 1 after an impact condition of Figure 6 ; and

[0033] Figure 10 is a partial top plan view showing the seat assembly of Figure 1 after an impact condition of Figure 6 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and the present invention may be embodied in various forms and alternative forms. The drawings are not necessarily to scale; some features may be enlarged or reduced to show details of particular components. Accordingly, the specific structural details and functional details disclosed herein should not be construed as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching those skilled in the art to practice the present invention in various ways.

[0035] Figure 1 Shows a seat assembly 20 according to an embodiment. The seat assembly 20 is a vehicle seat assembly 20 for installation within a vehicle such as a land vehicle, an aircraft, a watercraft, etc. The seat assembly 20 is shown as a rear seat assembly 20; however, the seat assembly 20 may be used in any seating row within a vehicle. The seat assembly 20 is depicted as a bench seat assembly 20 having a bench seat bottom 22 for supporting up to three seated occupants. However, any number of seats may be used. The seat bottom 22 is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle floor.

[0036] The seat assembly 20 further includes a pair of seat back assemblies 24, 26 that extend upright relative to the seat bottom 22. Each of the seat back assemblies 24, 26 is supported by the vehicle to pivot relative to the vehicle in order to fold each seat back assembly 24, 26 in order to fold the seat assembly 20 or a region of the seat assembly 20. The larger seat back assembly 24 provides support for two occupants; and the smaller seat back assembly 26 provides support for one occupant. This type of seat arrangement is commonly referred to as a 60 / 40 split seat assembly 20. This term indicates that the main seat back assembly 24 provides approximately 60% of the seat back support for the bench seat assembly 20; and the secondary seat back assembly 26 provides approximately 40% of the seat back support for the bench seat assembly 20.

[0037] Figure 2 The seat assembly 20 mounted to the vehicle body 28 is shown. The seat assembly 20 is also shown with the foam and trim removed to expose the underlying components of the seat assembly 20. The seat bottom 22 is removed in Figure 2 as well. The seat bottom 22 is directly mounted to the vehicle floor panel 30 of the vehicle body 28. The vehicle body 28 also includes a pair of upright panels 32, 34 that extend upright from the vehicle floor panel 30.

[0038] As Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown, the main seat back assembly 24 includes a seat back frame 36. Similarly, the secondary seat back assembly 26 includes a seat back frame 38. The seat back frames 36, 38 may both be formed of a suitable structural material (e.g., stamped metal parts). The components of each seat back frame 36, 38 may be integrally formed or may be assembled together by welding or the like. Each seat back frame 36, 38 of the seat back frames is pivotally connected to the vehicle body 28 for pivoting and folding of each seat back frame 36, 38. Each seat back frame 36, 38 includes inner upright members 40, 42 and outer upright members 44, 46. Each seat back frame 36, 38 also includes lower transverse members 48, 50 and upper transverse members 52, 54 to interconnect the upright members 40, 42, 44, 46.

[0039] Near the intersection of each outer upright member 44, 46 and the corresponding lower transverse member 48, 50, each seat back frame 36, 38 is pivotally connected to the vehicle body panels 32, 34. Additionally, pivot brackets 56 are mounted to the vehicle floor panel 30. Near the intersection of each inner upright member 40, 42 and the corresponding lower transverse member 48, 50, each seat back frame 36, 38 is pivotally connected to the pivot brackets 56.

[0040] The seat assembly 20 further includes a pair of latch mechanisms 58, 60. Each latch mechanism 58, 60 is mounted on the outer upright members 44, 46 of the seat back frames 36, 38. The latch mechanisms 58, 60 each engage a striker 62, 64 mounted on one of the upright panels 32, 34 of the vehicle body. Each latch mechanism 58, 60 is actuated by a manual unlock 66, 68 mounted on one of the upper transverse members 52, 54 of the seat back frames 36, 38. The latch mechanisms 58, 60 lock each seat back frame 36, 38 to the vehicle body 28 in the upright position. To lower the seat back assemblies 24, 26, the occupant actuates the manual unlocks 66, 68 to unlock the latch mechanisms 58, 60 and pivot the seat back assemblies 24, 26.

[0041] Now referring Figure 1 , the main seat back assembly 24 includes a pair of head protection device assemblies 70, 72. Now referring Figure 2 and Figure 3 , each head protection device assembly 70, 72 includes a frame 74, 76, and the frames 74, 76 are received in a pair of sleeves 78, 80 attached to the upper transverse member 52. Returning Figure 1 , the secondary seat back assembly 26 includes a head protection device assembly 82. Again referring Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the head protection device assembly 82 includes a frame 84 received in a pair of sleeves 86 attached to the upper transverse member 54.

[0042] The seat assembly 20 is designed to be lightweight to minimize cost, minimize weight, and optimize fuel efficiency. The depicted seat assembly 20 is a rear seat assembly 20 located between the occupant area and the cargo area of the vehicle. Referring Figure 2 , a pair of luggage units 88, 90 placed in the cargo area are shown. During a crash situation of the vehicle, the vehicle may decelerate, causing the luggage 88, 90 to impact the rear of the seat back assemblies 24, 26.

[0043] For the lightweight and compact seat assembly 20, the seat back frames 36, 38 may deform in such a cargo impact condition. Thus, the cargo impact deformation causes the head protection device assemblies 70, 72, 84 to translate. Similarly, the deformation may cause the cargo to lose retention force. The deformation of the seat back frames 36, 38 is resisted by the latch mechanisms 58, 60 and the pivot connections. The central head protection device assembly 72 is the farthest from the latch mechanisms 58, 60 and the pivot connections. Therefore, the central head protection device assembly 72 is more likely to translate due to deformation than the other head protection device assemblies 70, 82.

[0044] To minimize translation of the central head protection device assembly 72, the seat assembly 20 may be provided with structural reinforcements. However, a disadvantage of adding structural reinforcements is that the advantages of a lightweight seat assembly 20 will be sacrificed. Therefore, instead of adding structural reinforcements to the seat assembly 20, the deformation of the seat assembly 20 is controlled to minimize translation of the central head protection device assembly 72.

[0045] Figure 3 A rear view of the seat assembly 20 as seen from the cargo area is shown. The inner upright member 40 of the main seat back frame 36 includes a weakened area 92 formed in the middle along its length to control the deformation of the seat back frame 36 in the event of an impact. The weakened area 92 is shown in more detail in Figure 4 The inner upright member 40 is tubular and has a generally uniform cross-section along the length of the inner upright member 40. The weakened area 92 is flattened to form a notch to eliminate the hollow center of the upright member 40 and reduce the cross-section of the upright member 40 at the weakened area 92. The flattened area 92 can be formed by stamping or any suitable manufacturing process. The flattened weakened area 92 faces the cargo area of the vehicle body 28.

[0046] Referring again to Figure 3 , the main seat back frame 36 includes a plurality of inner upright members 40, 94, 96. Each inner upright member 40, 94, 96 is spaced apart from the outer upright member 44. The intermediate upright member 94 is also tubular and includes a flattened weakened area 98 formed in the middle along its length, similar to the weakened area 92 in the inner upright member 40. Another intermediate upright member 96 is formed of wire and has a weakened area 100 formed as a bent area in the middle. The weakened areas 92, 98, 100 of the inner upright members 40, 94, 96 are aligned as depicted by the centerlines in Figure 3 to show a buckle line or flexion line that is inclined in the outward direction formed in the seat back frame 36. According to the depicted embodiment, the outer upright member 44 does not include a weakened area.

[0047] Figure 5 The seat assembly 20 is shown from the right side before the impact situation. Figure 6 The seat assembly 20 is shown again from the right side during the impact situation. During the impact situation, the vehicle suddenly decelerates, causing the luggage 88, 90 to impact the rear of the seat back frames 36, 38. As shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, at the rear side, the inner upright member 40 buckles or bends at an obtuse angle in the weak area 92. This deformation causes the lower region 102 of the inner upright member 40 to pivot forward and exceed the vertical direction, while the upper region 104 of the inner upright member 40 bends backward and exceeds the vertical direction. Without the weak areas 92, 98, 100, the upper region 104 would remain collinear with the lower region 102 and would extend in front of the vertical direction. According to one embodiment, the controlled deformation reduces the forward translation of the central head protection device assembly 72 by approximately 115 millimeters (shifted from 150 millimeters to 35 millimeters).

[0048] Figure 6 and Figure 7 The applicable load shown is based on the relevant test requirements. The seat back frame 36 is designed to plastically deform in order to absorb and dissipate the impact of the cargo.

[0049] Figures 8 - 10 Shows the seat assembly 20 after the impact situation of Figure 6 and Figure 7 . Figure 8 Shows the deformation of the two seat back frames 36, 38. The secondary seat back frame 38 is narrower than the primary seat back frame 36 and thus, in the depicted embodiment, does not employ weak areas. The weak areas 92, 98, 100 cause the seat back frame 36 to buckle along the inner upright members 40, 94, 96 to control the deformation of the head protection device frame 76 and reduce the translation of the head protection device frame. The range of deformation is shown in Figure 9 in the right side view of the seat back assembly 24 in Figure 10 and in the top view of the seat back assembly 24 in

[0050] Although the weak areas are disclosed in the inner upright members, any structural member of any seat back frame 36, 38 can employ weak areas to control the deformation in the event of an impact.

[0051] Although the various embodiments are described above, it does not mean that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the present invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are descriptive rather than restrictive words, and it should be understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Additionally, the features of the various embodiments can be combined to form additional embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A seat back frame, comprising: a plurality of upright members; and at least one transverse member that interconnects the plurality of upright members; wherein at least one of the plurality of upright members has a tubular cross-section and a flattened weak region that is located between a first portion of the tubular cross-section and a second portion of the tubular cross-section and along the length of the tubular cross-section of at least one of the plurality of upright members to control the deformation of the seat back frame in the event of an impact; and the flattened weak region faces the rear direction of the seat back frame.

2. The seat back frame according to claim 1, wherein, The flattened weak region is formed at an intermediate position along the length of at least one of the plurality of upright members between the first portion and the second portion.

3. The seat back frame according to claim 1, wherein, At least one of the plurality of upright members has a substantially uniform cross-section along its length; and wherein the cross-section of the flattened weak region is relatively smaller than the substantially uniform cross-section.

4. The seat back frame according to claim 1, wherein The plurality of upright members further comprises: outer upright members; and at least one inner upright member that is laterally spaced apart from the outer upright members; and wherein the flattened weak region is formed in the at least one inner upright member.

5. The seat back frame according to claim 4, wherein, The flattened weak region is not formed in the outer upright members.

6. A seat back frame, comprising: a plurality of upright members; and at least one transverse member that interconnects the plurality of upright members; wherein at least one of the plurality of upright members has a tubular cross-section and a flattened weak region that is located between a first portion of the tubular cross-section and a second portion of the tubular cross-section and along the length of the tubular cross-section of at least one of the plurality of upright members to control the deformation of the seat back frame in the event of an impact; wherein at least one of the plurality of upright members further comprises structural filaments; and wherein the flattened weak region is curved relative to the length of the structural filaments.

7. A seat back frame, comprising: a plurality of upright members; and at least one transverse member that interconnects the plurality of upright members; wherein at least one of the plurality of upright members has a tubular cross-section and a flattened weak region that is located between a first portion of the tubular cross-section and a second portion of the tubular cross-section and along the length of the tubular cross-section of at least one of the plurality of upright members to control the deformation of the seat back frame in the event of an impact; wherein the plurality of upright members further comprises: outer upright members; and a plurality of inner upright members, each inner upright member being laterally spaced apart from the outer upright members; and wherein the flattened weak region is formed in each of the plurality of inner upright members.

8. A seat back frame, comprising: a plurality of upright members; and At least one transverse member that interconnects the plurality of upright members; wherein at least one of the plurality of upright members has a tubular cross-section and a flattened weakened area located between a first portion of the tubular cross-section and a second portion of the tubular cross-section and along the length of the tubular cross-section of at least one of the plurality of upright members to control deformation of the seat back frame in the event of an impact; and wherein the flattened weakened area is flattened into a notch to eliminate the hollow center of at least one of the plurality of upright members.

9. A seat assembly comprising: The seat back frame according to claim 4; and A latch mechanism attached to the seat back frame at the outer upright member or at at least one transverse member adjacent to the outer upright member.

10. A seat assembly comprising: The seat back frame according to claim 7; and A latch mechanism attached to the seat back frame at the outer upright member or at at least one transverse member adjacent to the outer upright member.

11. A seat assembly comprising: The seat back frame according to claim 1; and A latch mechanism attached to the seat back frame at the outer upright member of the plurality of upright members or at at least one transverse member adjacent to the outer upright member; and wherein the flattened weakened area is formed in an inner upright member that is laterally spaced from the outer upright member.

12. A seat assembly comprising: A seat back frame having an outer upright member, at least one inner upright member laterally spaced from the outer upright member, and at least one transverse member that interconnects the outer upright member and the at least one inner upright member; and A latch mechanism attached to the seat back frame at the outer upright member or at at least one transverse member adjacent to the outer upright member; wherein at least one of the inner upright members has a tubular cross-section and a flattened weakened area located between a first portion of the tubular cross-section and a second portion of the tubular cross-section and along the length of the tubular cross-section of the inner upright member to control deformation of the seat assembly in the event of an impact; wherein the at least one inner upright member further includes a plurality of inner upright members, each inner upright member being laterally spaced from the outer upright member; and wherein the flattened weakened area is formed in each of the plurality of inner upright members.

13. The seat assembly according to claim 12, wherein, The flattened weakened area is formed at an intermediate position along the length of the at least one inner upright member between the first portion and the second portion.

14. A seat assembly comprising: A seat back frame having an outer upright member, at least one inner upright member laterally spaced from the outer upright member, and at least one cross member interconnecting the outer upright member and the at least one inner upright member; and A latch mechanism attached to the seat back frame at the outer upright member or at the at least one cross member adjacent to the outer upright member; wherein the at least one inner upright member has a tubular cross-section and a flattened weak area located between a first portion of the tubular cross-section and a second portion of the tubular cross-section and along the length of the tubular cross-section of the inner upright member to control the deformation of the seat assembly in the event of an impact; and wherein the flattened weak area faces the rear direction of the seat assembly.

15. A seat assembly comprising: A seat back frame having an outer upright member, at least one inner upright member laterally spaced from the outer upright member, and at least one cross member interconnecting the outer upright member and the at least one inner upright member; and A latch mechanism attached to the seat back frame at the outer upright member or at the at least one cross member adjacent to the outer upright member; wherein the at least one inner upright member has a tubular cross-section and a flattened weak area located between a first portion of the tubular cross-section and a second portion of the tubular cross-section and along the length of the tubular cross-section of the inner upright member to control the deformation of the seat assembly in the event of an impact; wherein the at least one inner upright member further includes structural filaments; and wherein the flattened weak area is curved relative to the length of the structural filaments.

16. A seat assembly comprising: A seat back frame having an outer upright member, at least one inner upright member laterally spaced from the outer upright member, and at least one cross member interconnecting the outer upright member and the at least one inner upright member; and A latch mechanism attached to the seat back frame at the outer upright member or at the at least one cross member adjacent to the outer upright member; wherein the at least one inner upright member has a tubular cross-section and a flattened weak area located between a first portion of the tubular cross-section and a second portion of the tubular cross-section and along the length of the tubular cross-section of the inner upright member to control the deformation of the seat assembly in the event of an impact; and wherein the flattened weak area is not formed in the outer upright member.

17. A seat assembly comprising: A seat back frame having an outer upright member, at least one inner upright member laterally spaced from the outer upright member, and at least one cross member interconnecting the outer upright member and the at least one inner upright member; and a latch mechanism attached to the seat back frame at the outer upright member or at the at least one cross member adjacent to the outer upright member; wherein the at least one inner upright member has a tubular cross-section and a flattened weakened area located between a first portion of the tubular cross-section and a second portion of the tubular cross-section and along the length of the tubular cross-section of the inner upright member to control deformation of the seat assembly in the event of an impact; and wherein the flattened weakened area is flattened into a notch to eliminate the hollow center of the inner upright member.

18. A seat assembly comprising: a seat back frame having an outer upright member, a plurality of inner upright members laterally spaced from the outer upright member, and at least one cross member interconnecting the outer upright member and the plurality of inner upright members; and a latch mechanism attached to the seat back frame at the outer upright member or at the at least one cross member adjacent to the outer upright member; wherein each of the plurality of inner upright members has a flattened weakened area formed at an intermediate location along its length to control deformation of the seat assembly in the event of an impact; wherein the flattened weakened area is not formed in the outer upright member; wherein at least one of the plurality of inner upright members has a tubular cross-section; and wherein the flattened weakened area of the inner upright member having the tubular cross-section is flattened in a rearward direction of the seat assembly.

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