Anti-submarining belt for vehicle seat

Abstract

A seat for a vehicle includes a frame defining opposing side members and an anti-submarining strap. The anti-submarining band defines a first end, a second end, a stowed position, and a deployed position. A first end of the anti-submarining band is fixedly attached to an opposite side member of the frame. The anti-submarining band includes a slack portion when in the stowed position and is tensioned to the deployed position. The seat includes a seat cushion defining a compressed state and an uncompressed state. The seat cushion rests on the anti-submarining belt, and when the anti-submarining belt is in the stowed position, the seat cushion is in an uncompressed state, and when the anti-submarining belt is tensioned to the unfolded position, the seat cushion is compressed to a compressed state by the anti-submarining belt. The seat includes a pretensioner connected to the second end of the anti-submarining strap.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an anti-submarine slip belt for a vehicle seat. The anti-submarine slip belt is tightened from a stowed position to an unfolded position by a pretensioner to compress a seat cushion. Background Art

[0002] Some autonomous vehicles include seats with various features or characteristics that are typically not present in vehicles that are manually operated by the driver. For example, the angle of recline of the seats in an autonomous vehicle may be higher than that of a vehicle that is manually operated by the driver. However, if the seat is in a reclined position when a sudden deceleration occurs during a vehicle impact event, the lower part of the occupant's body may be pushed deeply into the seat cushion and slide under the occupant's lap belt, which is called submersion. The relatively high recline angles common in autonomous vehicle seats may increase the occupant's tendency to submerge when the vehicle suddenly decelerates.

[0003] Therefore, while current seats achieve their intended purpose, there is still a need in the art for an improved method to reduce the occurrence of occupant submersion in the seat. Summary of the invention

[0004] According to several aspects, a seat for a vehicle is disclosed, and the seat includes a frame defining opposite side members, each of which corresponds to a left-hand side or a right-hand side of the seat. The seat includes an anti-submarine belt, which defines a first end, a second end, a stowed position, and an extended position, wherein the first end of the anti-submarine belt is fixedly attached to one of the opposite side members of the frame, and wherein the anti-submarine belt includes a slack portion when in the stowed position and is tightened to the extended position. The seat also includes a seat cushion defining a compressed state and an uncompressed state, wherein the seat cushion rests on the anti-submarine belt, and when the anti-submarine belt is in the stowed position, the seat cushion is in an uncompressed state, and when the anti-submarine belt is tightened to the extended position, the seat cushion is compressed to a compressed state by the anti-submarine belt. The seat also includes a pretensioner connected to the second end of the anti-submarine belt, wherein when the pretensioner is deployed, the anti-submarine belt is tightened from the stowed position to the extended position.

[0005] In another aspect, the anti-submarine strap is urged in an upward direction and exerts pressure on the bottom surface of the seat cushion when tightened to the deployed position.

[0006] In yet another aspect, the pretensioners are disposed on the remaining side members of the frame.

[0007] In one aspect, the seat includes one or more controllers in electronic communication with the pretensioners.

[0008] In another aspect, the one or more controllers execute instructions to determine that the vehicle is about to crash, and in response to determining that the vehicle is about to crash, send a firing signal to the pretensioner instructing the pretensioner to deploy.

[0009] In yet another aspect, the pretensioner includes more than one level of deployment and the transmitted signal is indicative of the level of deployment of the pretensioner.

[0010] In one aspect, increasing the deployment level of the pretensioner results in increasing the tension level experienced by the anti-submarine strip in the deployed position.

[0011] In another aspect, the one or more controllers determine a level of deployment of the pretensioner based on at least one of: a severity of the impact, a weight of the occupant, and a predetermined stiffness of the seat cushion body.

[0012] In yet another aspect, one or more controllers execute instructions to select a first stage deployment or a second stage deployment of the pretensioner.

[0013] In one aspect, the second stage deployment of the pretensioner is at a greater level of compression in the seat cushion body than the first stage deployment of the pretensioner.

[0014] In another aspect, when the vehicle speed is greater than the first stage deployment speed and less than the second stage deployment speed, wherein the second stage deployment speed is greater than the first stage deployment speed, the one or more controllers execute instructions to select the first stage deployment of the pretensioner.

[0015] In yet another aspect, the one or more controllers execute instructions to select second stage deployment of the pretensioner when the vehicle speed is greater than the second stage deployment speed.

[0016] In one aspect, the anti-submarine strap is comprised of seat belt webbing.

[0017] On the other hand, a seat for a vehicle, wherein the seat includes a frame defining opposite side members, each of which corresponds to a left-hand side or a right-hand side of the seat. The seat also includes an anti-submarine belt, which defines a first end, a second end, a stowed position, and an extended position, wherein the first end of the anti-submarine belt is fixedly attached to one of the opposite side members of the frame, and wherein the anti-submarine belt includes a slack portion when in the stowed position and is tightened to the extended position. The seat also includes a seat cushion defining a compressed state and an uncompressed state, wherein the seat cushion rests on the anti-submarine belt, and when the anti-submarine belt is in the stowed position, the seat cushion is in an uncompressed state, and when the anti-submarine belt is tightened to the extended position, the seat cushion is compressed to a compressed state by the anti-submarine belt. The seat also includes a pretensioner connected to the second end of the anti-submarine belt, wherein when the pretensioner is deployed, the anti-submarine belt is tightened from the stowed position to the extended position. The seat includes one or more controllers in electronic communication with the pretensioner, wherein the one or more controllers execute instructions to determine that the vehicle is about to crash and, in response to determining that the vehicle is about to crash, send a transmission signal to the pretensioner instructing the pretensioner to deploy.

[0018] In another aspect, the pretensioner includes more than one level of deployment and the transmitted signal is indicative of the level of deployment of the pretensioner.

[0019] In yet another aspect, increasing the deployment level of the pretensioner results in increasing the tension level experienced by the anti-submarine strip in the deployed position.

[0020] In one aspect, the one or more controllers determine a level of deployment of the pretensioner based on at least one of: a severity of the impact, an occupant weight, and a predetermined stiffness of the seat cushion body.

[0021] In another aspect, one or more controllers execute instructions to select a first stage deployment or a second stage deployment of the pretensioner.

[0022] In yet another aspect, when the vehicle speed is greater than the first stage deployment speed and less than the second stage deployment speed, wherein the second stage deployment speed is greater than the first stage deployment speed, the one or more controllers execute instructions to select the first stage deployment of the pretensioner.

[0023] In one aspect, a seat for a vehicle is disclosed. The seat includes a frame defining opposite side members, each of which corresponds to a left-hand side or a right-hand side of the seat. The seat includes an anti-submarine belt, the anti-submarine belt defining a first end, a second end, a stowed position, and a deployed position, wherein the first end of the anti-submarine belt is fixedly attached to one of the opposite side members of the frame, and wherein the anti-submarine belt includes a slack portion when in the stowed position and is tightened to the deployed position. The seat includes a seat cushion defining a compressed state and an uncompressed state, wherein the seat cushion rests on the anti-submarine belt, and when the anti-submarine belt is in the stowed position, the seat cushion is in the uncompressed state, and when the anti-submarine belt is tightened to the deployed position, the seat cushion is compressed to a compressed state by the anti-submarine belt. The seat includes a pretensioner connected to the second end of the anti-submarine belt, wherein when the pretensioner is deployed, the anti-submarine belt is tightened from the stowed position to the deployed position, and wherein the pretensioner includes more than one deployment level. The seat also includes one or more controllers in electronic communication with the pretensioner, wherein the one or more controllers execute instructions to determine that the vehicle is about to crash, and in response to determining that the vehicle is about to crash, send a transmit signal to the pretensioner to instruct the pretensioner to deploy, wherein the transmit signal indicates a deployment level of the pretensioner.

[0024] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein.It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

[0026] Figure 1is a perspective view of an interior cockpit of a vehicle including seats according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0027] Figure 2 According to an exemplary embodiment Figure 1 An elevation view of a seat in which the seat cushion has been removed to reveal the disclosed anti-submarine slip strip;

[0028] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a side frame according to an exemplary embodiment with the seat pan removed and the anti-submarine strap separated from the side frame;

[0029] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a seat cushion, an occupant seated on the seat cushion, and an anti-submarine belt according to an exemplary embodiment, wherein the anti-submarine belt is in a stowed position; and

[0030] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a seat cushion, an occupant, and an anti-submarine strap according to an exemplary embodiment, with the anti-submarine strap in a deployed position and the seat cushion compressed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.

[0032] refer to Figure 1 , an exemplary seat 10 is shown disposed within an interior cockpit 14 of a vehicle 12. In one non-limiting embodiment, the vehicle 12 is an autonomous vehicle. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to autonomous vehicles, and the seat 10 may also be used in manually operated vehicles. The vehicle 12 may be any type of vehicle, such as, but not limited to, a car, truck, sport utility vehicle, van, or RV. In another embodiment, the vehicle 12 may be an aircraft vehicle or a marine vehicle.

[0033] The seat 10 includes a seat bottom panel 16 (eg, Figure 2 As shown), frame 18 (as Figure 2 As shown), anti-submarine slip belt 20 (as Figure 2 ), a seat back 22, a headrest 24, a seat cushion 26 and a back cushion 28. The frame 18 of the seat 10 is operably connected to the floor 30 of the interior cockpit 14 of the vehicle 12 via a support structure 32. Figure 1 In the example shown, the support structure 32 allows the seat 10 to rotate relative to the floor 30 of the vehicle 12, however, it should be understood that Figure 1 This is merely exemplary in nature and the seat 10 may also be non-rotatable. For example, in another embodiment, the support structure 32 may also be a pair of seat rails.

[0034] Figure 2is an elevation view of the seat 10 with the seat cushion 26 removed to expose the seat pan 16 , frame 18 , and anti-submarine strap 20 . Figure 3 is a perspective view of the frame 18, wherein the anti-submarine slip strip 20 has been separated from the frame 18. Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the frame 18 defines opposite side members 40 corresponding to the left and right hand sides 42 of the seat 10. The frame 18 also includes two connecting members 44 connecting the opposite side members 40 to each other, one of the connecting members 44 corresponding to the front side 46 of the seat 10, and the remaining connecting member 44 corresponding to the rear side 48 of the seat 10.

[0035] The anti-submarine strap 20 includes a member 50 constructed of a relatively flexible material, such as, but not limited to, a woven material, such as seat belt webbing. The member 50 of the anti-submarine strap 20 defines a first end 52 and a second end 54 . Figure 4 and Figure 5 1 is a schematic diagram of the frame 18, the anti-submarine slip band 20, the seat cushion 26, the pretensioner 60, one or more controllers 62 in electronic communication with the pretensioner 60, and the femur 64 of the occupant 66. The occupant 66 sits on the upper surface 72 of the seat cushion 26 of the seat 10 ( Figure 1 and Figure 2 ).

[0036] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , the first end 52 of the member 50 of the anti-submarine strip 20 is fixedly attached to one of the opposite side members 40 of the frame 18, and the second end of the elongated member 50 is connected to the pretensioner 60. The pretensioner 60 is disposed on the remaining side members 40 of the frame 18. The seat cushion 26 defines a lower surface 70 and an upper surface 72, wherein the lower surface 70 of the seat cushion 26 faces the seat pan 16 ( Figure 1 ), and the occupant 66 sits on the upper surface 72 of the seat cushion 26.

[0037] The member 50 of the anti-submarine strip 20 extends in the lateral direction of the seat cushion 26 between the opposite side members 40 of the frame 18 of the seat 10 ( Figure 1 ). Figure 4 The elongated member 50 is shown in the stowed position and the seat cushion 26 is shown in the uncompressed state. When the anti-submarine strap is in the stowed position, the anti-submarine strap 20 includes a slack portion. Figure 4 As shown, the lower surface 70 of the seat cushion 26 rests on the anti-submarine strip 20. When the anti-submarine strip 20 is in the stowed position, the seat cushion 26 is in an uncompressed state.

[0038] When the pretensioner 60 receives a transmission signal from one or more controllers 62, the pretensioner 60 deploys and tightens the anti-submarine belt 20 to the deployed position, such as Figure 5 As shown. Figure 5As shown in FIG. 2 , when the anti-submarine slip band 20 is tightened to the deployed position, the seat cushion 26 is compressed by the anti-submarine slip band 20 to a compressed state. Figure 4 and Figure 5 It should be understood that in the vehicle 12 ( Figure 1 ), the anti-submarine belt 20 is in the stowed position and the seat cushion 26 is in an uncompressed state. When the anti-submarine belt 20 is tightened to the deployed position, the member 50 is pushed in the upward direction D to exert pressure on the lower surface 70 of the seat cushion 26, and the seat cushion 26 is compressed to the compressed state.

[0039] Continue to refer Figure 4 and Figure 5 It should be understood that one or more controllers 62 are from the vehicle 12 ( Figure 1 ) and / or receive the acceleration signal from another controller (such as an airbag controller) that is part of the vehicle 12. The one or more controllers 62 determine that the vehicle 12 is experiencing a collision or other traffic event that causes the vehicle 12 to suddenly stop based on the acceleration signal. In response to determining that the vehicle 12 is about to collide, the one or more controllers 62 send a transmission signal to the pretensioner 60. In response to receiving the transmission signal from the one or more controllers 62, the pretensioner 60 deploys and retracts the member 50 of the anti-submarine strip 20 to the tightened position.

[0040] The seat cushion 26 includes a body 58 constructed of one or more materials having a predetermined hardness, such as polyurethane foam. When the seat cushion 26 is in a compressed state, the body 58 of the seat cushion 26 is compressed in an upward direction D toward the occupant 66. It should be understood that compressing the seat cushion 26 increases the overall stiffness of the body of the seat cushion 26, thereby controlling the forward and downward deflection of the occupant 66 when the vehicle 12 stops suddenly, for example, during a collision. Controlling the forward and downward deflection of the occupant 66 controls the pelvic rotation of the occupant and can reduce or prevent the occupant from sliding submerged during a collision.

[0041] In one embodiment, the pretensioner 60 includes more than one deployment level and transmits a signal indicating the deployment level of the pretensioner 60. Increasing the deployment level of the pretensioner 60 results in an increase in the tension level of the anti-submarine band 20. In other words, increasing the deployment level of the pretensioner 60 results in pulling the anti-submarine band 20 tighter to the deployed position. It should be understood that increasing the tension level experienced by the anti-submarine band 20 in the deployed position results in an increase in the compression level in the body 58 of the seat cushion 26. The deployment level of the pretensioner 60 is determined based on at least one of the severity of the collision, the weight of the occupant 66, and the predetermined stiffness of the body 58 of the seat cushion 26. The one or more controllers 62 determine the severity of the collision based on acceleration signals from one or more satellite sensors (not shown) and / or from another controller as part of the vehicle 12.

[0042] In one embodiment, the one or more controllers 62 select a first stage deployment or a second stage deployment of the pretensioner 60. When the pretensioner is in the first stage deployment, the anti-submarine strip 20 is subjected to less tension than the tension experienced in the second stage deployment. Therefore, the second stage deployment of the pretensioner 60 results in a greater level of compression in the body 58 of the seat cushion 26 than the first stage deployment. In an exemplary embodiment, when the vehicle speed is greater than the first stage deployment speed and less than the second stage deployment speed, wherein the second stage deployment speed is greater than the first stage deployment speed, the one or more controllers 62 select the first stage deployment speed of the pretensioner 60. When the speed of the vehicle 12 is greater than the second stage deployment speed, the one or more controllers 62 select the second stage deployment speed of the pretensioner 60. In an embodiment, the first stage deployment speed is about 20 kilometers per hour (kph) and the second stage deployment speed is about 40 kph, however, it should be understood that these values ​​are merely exemplary in nature.

[0043] It should be understood that when the weight of the occupant 66 increases, the one or more controllers 62 increase the deployment level of the pretensioner 60. Therefore, a heavier occupant causes the body 58 of the seat cushion 26 to be compressed more. In one non-limiting example, if the occupant 66 is fifty percent male, the body 58 of the seat cushion 26 is compressed no more than about twenty millimeters when in the compressed state. In addition, it should also be understood that when the predetermined stiffness of the body 58 of the seat cushion 26 increases, the one or more controllers 62 can reduce the deployment level of the pretensioner 60.

[0044] Referring generally to the accompanying drawings, the disclosed anti-submarine strip has various technical effects and benefits. Specifically, when the disclosed anti-submarine strip is tightened to the deployed position when the vehicle stops suddenly, the seat cushion of the seat is compressed, thereby increasing the overall stiffness of the seat cushion body. When the vehicle stops suddenly, the compressed seat cushion can control the forward and downward deflection of the occupant. Controlling the forward and downward deflection of the occupant can control the pelvic rotation of the occupant and reduce or prevent the occupant from submerging during a collision.

[0045] A controller may refer to an electronic circuit, a combinatorial logic circuit, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a (shared, dedicated or group) processor that executes code, or a combination of several or all of the above, or a part of an electronic circuit, a combinatorial logic circuit, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a (shared, dedicated or group) processor that executes code, for example, in a system on a chip. In addition, the controller may be based on a microprocessor, for example, a computer having at least one processor, a memory (RAM and / or ROM), and associated input and output buses. The processor may operate under the control of an operating system residing in the memory. The operating system may manage computer resources so that a computer program code embodied as one or more computer software applications (such as applications residing in the memory) may have instructions executed by the processor. In an alternative embodiment, the processor may execute the application directly, in which case the operating system may be omitted.

[0046] The description of the present disclosure is merely exemplary in nature, and variations that do not depart from the gist of the present disclosure are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure. These variations should not be regarded as departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A seat for a vehicle, wherein the seat comprises: a frame defining opposing side members, the opposing side members each corresponding to a left-hand side or a right-hand side of the seat; an anti-submarine strap defining a first end, a second end, a stowed position, and a deployed position, wherein the first end of the anti-submarine strap is fixedly attached to one of the opposing side members of the frame, and wherein the anti-submarine strap includes slack when in the stowed position and is tensioned to the deployed position; a seat cushion defining a compressed state and an uncompressed state, wherein the seat cushion rests on the anti-submarine slip belt, and when the anti-submarine slip belt is in the stowed position, the seat cushion is in the uncompressed state, and when the anti-submarine slip belt is tightened to the deployed position, the seat cushion is compressed by the anti-submarine slip belt to the compressed state; as well as A pretensioner is connected to the second end of the anti-submarine belt, wherein when the pretensioner is deployed, the anti-submarine belt is tightened from the stowed position to the deployed position.

2. The seat of claim 1, wherein the anti-submarine strap is urged in an upward direction and applies pressure to a bottom surface of the seat cushion when tightened to the deployed position.

3. The seat of claim 1, wherein the pretensioner is disposed on a remaining side member of the frame.

4. The seat of claim 1 further comprising one or more controllers in electronic communication with the pretensioner.

5. The chair of claim 4, wherein the one or more controllers execute instructions to: determining that the vehicle is about to collide; and In response to determining that the vehicle is about to crash, a transmission signal is sent to the pretensioner instructing the pretensioner to deploy. 6 . The seat of claim 5 , wherein the pretensioner includes more than one level of deployment and the transmitted signal indicates the level of deployment of the pretensioner.

7. The seat of claim 6, wherein increasing the level of deployment of the pretensioner results in an increased level of tension experienced by the anti-submarine strap in the deployed position.

8. The seat of claim 6, wherein the one or more controllers determine a level of deployment of the pretensioner based on at least one of: impact severity, occupant weight, and a predetermined stiffness of the seat cushion body.

9. The chair of claim 8, wherein the one or more controllers execute instructions to: Selecting a first stage deployment or a second stage deployment of the pretensioner.

10. The seat of claim 9, wherein a second stage deployment of the pretensioner is at a greater level of compression in the body of the seat cushion than a first stage deployment of the pretensioner.

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