Zero-gravity seat passive safety system

By equipping the zero-gravity seat with an emergency seatbelt locking and pretensioning mechanism, as well as a seat cushion airbag and a collapsible structure, the safety hazard of occupants sliding due to inertia in zero-gravity mode is solved, achieving comprehensive riding safety protection.

WO2026124182A1PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2026-06-18ADIENT (CHONGQING) AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS CO LTD +1

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
ADIENT (CHONGQING) AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS CO LTD
Filing Date
2025-11-21
Publication Date
2026-06-18

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In zero-gravity seat mode, during a collision while the vehicle is in motion, occupants are prone to sliding off the seat due to reduced seatbelt restraint, posing a serious safety hazard.

Method used

A zero-gravity seat passive safety system was designed, including a seat belt, backrest retractor, and lumbar retractor, equipped with an emergency locking mechanism and a pretensioning pull-back mechanism. Combined with a seat cushion airbag and a collapsible structure, it ensures that the seat belt secures the occupant in an emergency, providing all-around protection.

🎯Benefits of technology

In zero-gravity mode, the seat belt can quickly secure the occupant and prevent slippage. Through multi-directional protection measures, it improves riding safety and reduces injuries caused by inertial slippage.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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    Figure CN2025136829_18062026_PF_FP_ABST
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Abstract

The present application discloses a zero-gravity seat passive safety system, comprising a seat body and a seat belt. The seat body has a base and a seat frame; the rear end of the seat frame is rotatably connected to the base; a lifting driving mechanism is provided between the front end of the seat frame and the base; a backrest is rotatably connected to the rear end of the base; a backrest retractor and a waist retractor are respectively provided at both ends of the seat belt; the seat frame is provided with a seat belt insertion seat; an insert that can be detachably inserted into the seat belt insertion seat is fixedly connected to the middle part of the seat belt; and an emergency locking mechanism is provided in the waist retractor.
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Description

Zero Gravity Seat Passive Safety System

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411827259.3, filed on December 12, 2024, entitled "Zero Gravity Seat Passive Safety System", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of automotive seat technology, specifically to a zero-gravity seat passive safety system. Background Technology

[0003] Zero-gravity seats are a popular comfort feature in the automotive market. Their core structure includes a base and a seat frame that is rotatably mounted on the base at the rear. The front of the seat frame is equipped with a leg rest, and the rear is rotatably connected to a backrest.

[0004] The zero-gravity mode of the zero-gravity chair involves lifting the front of the seat frame upwards, causing the entire seat frame to tilt, the backrest to recline, and the leg rest to extend at the front of the seat frame. In zero-gravity mode, users can lie comfortably in the chair. Invention Overview

[0005] In zero-gravity seating mode, occupants are almost in a reclining position supported on the seat. If a collision occurs during vehicle movement, the restraining force of the seat belts on the occupants is greatly reduced, especially the lap belts. Due to the inertia of the body, the occupants will slide forward from the seat, posing a very serious safety hazard.

[0006] In view of this, this application provides a zero-gravity seat passive safety system, which aims to improve safety in zero-gravity riding mode.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of this application is as follows:

[0008] A zero-gravity seat passive safety system includes a seat body with a base and a seat frame located on the upper side of the base. The rear end of the seat frame is rotatably connected to the base, and a lifting drive mechanism is provided between the front end and the base. A backrest is rotatably connected to the rear end of the base. The key feature is that it also includes a seat belt. The seat belt has a backrest retractor and a lumbar retractor at each end. The backrest retractor is installed at the shoulder position of the backrest, and the lumbar retractor is installed on one side of the seat frame. A seat belt connector is provided on the side of the seat frame away from the lumbar retractor. A connector is fixedly connected to the middle of the seat belt and can be detachably inserted into the seat belt connector. The lumbar retractor has a built-in emergency locking mechanism configured to lock the seat belt in an emergency.

[0009] Optionally, the backrest retractor has a built-in emergency locking mechanism configured to lock the seat belt in an emergency.

[0010] Optionally, the backrest retractor and / or lumbar retractor have a built-in pretensioning pull mechanism that can actively tighten the seat belt in an emergency.

[0011] Optionally, a seat cushion airbag is integrated into the seat frame, which can rapidly inflate upon impact. The seat cushion airbag is positioned within the seat frame in the area corresponding to the occupant's buttocks.

[0012] Optionally, a guide exit component is installed at the shoulder position of the backrest, and the seat belt slides onto the guide exit component. The guide exit component is installed at the shoulder position of the backrest via a level adjustment mechanism and / or a height adjustment mechanism. The backrest retractor, guide exit component, and lumbar retractor are arranged on the same side of the seat.

[0013] Optionally, a leg rest is provided at the front end of the seat frame.

[0014] Optionally, the lifting drive mechanism integrates a crumple zone, which can passively collapse at the moment of vehicle collision to return the seat frame from an inclined state to a horizontal state.

[0015] Optionally, the lifting drive mechanism includes an electric angle adjuster and an upper and lower connecting rod hinged to each other at their ends. The upper connecting rod is rotatably connected to the front of the seat frame, and the lower connecting rod is rotatably connected to the base. The electric angle adjuster is configured to drive the lower connecting rod to rotate relative to the base. A collapsible structure is provided at the hinge position of the upper and lower connecting rods. Beneficial effects

[0016] 1. The zero-gravity seat passive safety system provided in this application allows for flexible seatbelt retraction and retraction at both ends during daily use, as the seatbelt retractors and lumbar retractors can be freely retracted. Therefore, even when the buckle is fixed to the seatbelt, the seatbelt can still be worn freely by different users. The lumbar retractor has a built-in emergency locking mechanism. When an occupant is lying on the seat in zero-gravity mode, in the event of a collision or sudden braking, the emergency locking mechanism quickly secures the seatbelt, ensuring a constant length between the buckle and the lumbar retractor. This ensures the seatbelt is firmly restrained around the occupant's waist, preventing the occupant from sliding forward from the seat and improving safety in zero-gravity seating mode.

[0017] 2. The backrest retractor and lumbar retractor have a pre-tensioning function. In the event of a vehicle collision, the pre-tensioning pull-back mechanism can firmly bind the occupants to the seat, improving collision safety.

[0018] 3. Through the close cooperation of safety components such as seat belt emergency locking, pretensioning and pullback, mechanical crumple zone, and seat airbags, comprehensive protection can be provided to occupants from multiple directions, including front, rear, horizontal, and vertical, at different stages after a collision. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of the zero-gravity seat.

[0020] Figure 2 is a side view of the zero-gravity seat.

[0021] Figure 3 is a reference diagram of the usage status of this application;

[0022] Figure 4 is a layout structure block diagram of the zero-gravity seat passive safety system provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0023] Figure label:

[0024] 1-Base; 2-Seat frame; 3-Lifting drive mechanism; 3a-Electric angle adjuster; 3b-Upper linkage; 3c-Lower linkage; 4-Backrest; 5-Seat belt; 6-Backrest retractor; 7-Lumbar retractor; 8-Insertion piece; 9-Seat belt connector; 10-Seat cushion airbag; 11-Guide outlet piece; 12-Leg rest;

[0025] 100-Zero gravity seat passive safety system; 101-Seat body; 102-Emergency locking mechanism; 103-Pretensioning and pull-back mechanism; 104-Collapse structure. Embodiments of the present invention

[0026] The present application will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a zero-gravity seat comprises a base 1 and a seat frame 2 located on the upper side of the base 1. The rear end of the seat frame 2 is rotatably connected to the base 1, and a lifting drive mechanism 3 is provided between the front end of the seat frame 2 and the base 1. A backrest 4 is rotatably connected to the rear end of the base 1. A leg rest 12 is provided at the front end of the seat frame 2. The leg rest 12 can be selected or omitted depending on different configurations; this embodiment is described using a configuration with the leg rest 12 as an example.

[0028] Referring again to Figure 2, the lifting drive mechanism 3 includes an electric angle adjuster 3a and an upper connecting rod 3b and a lower connecting rod 3c hinged to each other at their ends. The upper end of the upper connecting rod 3b is rotatably connected to the front of the seat frame 2, and the lower end of the lower connecting rod 3c is rotatably connected to the base 1 via the electric angle adjuster 3a. The electric angle adjuster 3a is configured to drive the lower connecting rod 3c to rotate relative to the base 1. The zero-gravity seating state of the seat is as follows: 1. The backrest 4 is tilted backward; 2. The electric angle adjuster 3a drives the lower connecting rod 3c to rotate, and under the transmission action of the upper connecting rod 3b, the seat frame 2 rotates with the rear end as the rotation center, and the front end is raised, so the seat frame 2 is adjusted to a tilted state; 3. The leg rest 12 is tilted and unfolded at the front end of the seat frame 2.

[0029] In this embodiment, the zero-gravity seat is equipped with a safety restraint system, which includes a seat belt 5. A backrest retractor 6 and a lumbar retractor 7 are respectively installed at both ends of the seat belt 5. The backrest retractor 6 is installed at the shoulder position of the backrest 4. The lumbar retractor 7 is installed on one side of the seat frame 2. A seat belt connector 9 is provided on the side of the seat frame 2 away from the lumbar retractor 7. A connector 8 is fixedly connected to the middle of the seat belt 5, and this connector 8 can be detachably inserted into the seat belt connector 9. Under normal conditions, because the backrest retractor 6 and lumbar retractor 7 at both ends can freely retract and extend the seat belt 5, the seat belt 5 can still be worn freely even if the connector 8 is fixed to the seat belt 5.

[0030] The lumbar retractor 7 incorporates an emergency locking mechanism 102. When an occupant is lying on the seat in zero-gravity mode, in the event of a collision or sudden braking, the emergency locking mechanism 102 quickly secures the seatbelt 5, ensuring a constant length of the seatbelt 5 between the buckle 8 and the lumbar retractor 7. This ensures the seatbelt 5 is firmly restrained around the occupant's waist, preventing the occupant from sliding forward from the seat and improving safety in zero-gravity seating mode. Specifically, the backrest retractor 6 also incorporates an emergency locking mechanism 102. In the event of a collision or sudden braking, the emergency locking mechanism 102 within the backrest retractor 6 can firmly secure the occupant's upper body to the front of the backrest 4.

[0031] The backrest retractor 6 and lumbar retractor 7 also have a pretensioning function, meaning they are equipped with a pretensioning pull-back mechanism 103. In the event of a vehicle collision, the vehicle decelerates rapidly, and the collision signal, transmitted through the collision sensor, ignites the gas generator within milliseconds, pushing the pretensioning pull-back mechanism 103 to pull back the seatbelt 5, firmly securing the occupant to the seat. The pretensioning functions of the backrest retractor 6 and lumbar retractor 7 can be configured simultaneously, or one can be selected based on needs.

[0032] In the field of seat belt technology, the pre-tensioning and pull-back mechanism 103 and the emergency locking mechanism 102 of the retractor mentioned above are both mature technologies, and will not be described in detail in this embodiment.

[0033] As shown in Figure 3, a seat cushion airbag 10 is integrated within the seat frame 2, preferably positioned in the area of ​​the seat frame 2 corresponding to the occupant's buttocks. In the event of a collision, the vehicle decelerates rapidly, and a collision signal is transmitted to the gas generator of the seat cushion airbag 10. The airbag 10 quickly inflates, providing horizontal support and effectively preventing the occupant from slipping off the seat. Together with the seat belt 5 and other restraint systems, it maintains the occupant's correct posture, preventing injuries to the spine and other parts of the body due to positional shift.

[0034] A collapsible structure 104 is integrated into the lifting drive mechanism 3. The collapsible structure 104 is located at the hinge position of the upper link 3b and the lower link 3c. In the middle and later stages of the collision, as the collision continues, the occupant's body moves forward and downward due to inertia, exerting pressure on the seat frame 2. At this time, the downward pressure causes the collapsible structure 104 to collapse, the hinge relationship between the upper link 3b and the lower link 3c is structurally disrupted, and the seat frame 2 is brought back to a horizontal state by absorbing energy, thus buffering the impact force on the occupant's body, especially reducing spinal injury. The integration of the collapsible structure 104 into the lifting drive mechanism 3 provided in this embodiment is prior art; please refer to the patent publication document with publication number CN221137781U.

[0035] As shown in Figure 1, a guide outlet component 11 is installed at the shoulder position of the backrest 4. The seat belt 5 is slidably mounted on the guide outlet component 11. The guide outlet component 11 is installed at the shoulder position of the backrest 4 via a horizontal adjustment mechanism and / or a height adjustment mechanism. The horizontal adjustment mechanism and the height adjustment mechanism can adjust the position of the guide outlet component 11. Through this adjustment, the user can ensure a suitable positional relationship between the seat belt 5 in front of the chest and the occupant, thereby preventing the seat belt 5 from strangling the neck during a collision.

[0036] Based on the zero-gravity seat safety system provided in this embodiment, after a vehicle collision, the components work together in the following time sequence to protect the occupants:

[0037] 1. In the very early stage - the backrest retractor 6 and the lumbar retractor 7 are activated. At the moment of collision, the vehicle decelerates sharply. The vehicle collision signal is transmitted to the backrest retractor 6 and the lumbar retractor 7 to detonate the gas generator to tighten the seat belt 5, firmly fixing the occupant and preventing the occupant from rushing forward and falling due to inertia.

[0038] 2. Early-stage airbag 10 triggers. At the moment of impact, the vehicle decelerates rapidly, and the vehicle collision signal is transmitted to the gas generator of the airbag 10, causing the airbag 10 to inflate rapidly. The inflated airbag 10 provides horizontal support to prevent the occupant from slipping off the seat. Together with the seat belt 5 and other restraint systems, it maintains the occupant's correct posture and avoids injuries to the spine and other parts of the body due to body position shift.

[0039] 3. In the mid-to-late stage – the crumple zone in the lifting drive mechanism 3 comes into play. As the collision continues, the occupant's body moves forward and downward due to inertia, putting pressure on the seat cushion. At this point, the crumple zone begins to function, using the deformable material of the linkage structure to cause structural failure, achieving controlled energy absorption, thereby cushioning the impact force on the occupant's body, especially reducing spinal injuries. Through the close cooperation of these safety components, comprehensive protection is provided to the occupant in multiple directions, including front-to-back, horizontal, and vertical directions, at different stages after the collision.

Claims

1. A zero-gravity seat passive safety system (100) includes a seat body (101), the seat body (101) having a base (1) and a seat frame (2) located on the upper side of the base (1), the rear end of the seat frame (2) being rotatably connected to the base (1), and a lifting drive mechanism (3) being provided between the front end and the base (1), and a backrest (4) being rotatably connected to the rear end of the base (1). It also includes a seat belt (5), with a backrest retractor (6) and a waist retractor (7) respectively at both ends of the seat belt (5). The backrest retractor (6) is installed at the shoulder position of the backrest (4), and the waist retractor (7) is installed on one side of the seat frame (2). A seat belt connector (9) is provided on the side of the seat frame (2) away from the waist retractor (7). A connector (8) is fixedly connected to the middle of the seat belt (5), and the connector (8) can be detachably inserted into the seat belt connector (9). The waist retractor (7) has an emergency locking mechanism (102) built in, which is configured to lock the seat belt (5) in an emergency to ensure that the length of the seat belt (5) between the connector (8) and the waist retractor (7) is a constant value. The seat frame (2) integrates a seat cushion airbag (10). In the event of a vehicle collision, the seat cushion airbag (10) can be rapidly inflated. The seat cushion airbag (10) is located in the area of ​​the seat frame (2) corresponding to the occupant's buttocks.

2. The zero-gravity seat passive safety system (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The backrest retractor (6) has an emergency locking mechanism (102) built in, which is configured to lock the seat belt (5) in an emergency.

3. The zero-gravity seat passive safety system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The backrest retractor (6) and / or waist retractor (7) are equipped with a pre-tensioning pull-back mechanism (103) which can actively tighten the seat belt (5) in an emergency.

4. The zero-gravity seat passive safety system (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The backrest (4) is equipped with a guide outlet component (11) at the shoulder position, and the seat belt (5) is slidably mounted on the guide outlet component (11). The guide outlet component (11) is installed at the shoulder position of the backrest (4) through a horizontal adjustment mechanism and / or a height adjustment mechanism.

5. The zero-gravity seat passive safety system (100) according to claim 4, wherein, The backrest retractor (6), guide outlet component (11), and lumbar retractor (7) are arranged on the same side of the seat.

6. The zero-gravity seat passive safety system (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The front end of the seat frame (2) is provided with a leg rest (12).

7. The zero-gravity seat passive safety system (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The lifting drive mechanism (3) integrates a collapse structure (104). In the instant of vehicle collision, the collapse structure (104) can passively collapse so that the seat frame (2) returns from the tilted state to the horizontal state.

8. The zero-gravity seat passive safety system (100) according to claim 7, wherein, The lifting drive mechanism (3) includes an electric angle adjuster (3a) and an upper connecting rod (3b) and a lower connecting rod (3c) hinged to each other at their ends. The upper connecting rod (3b) is rotatably connected to the front of the seat frame (2), and the lower connecting rod (3c) is rotatably connected to the base (1). The electric angle adjuster (3a) is configured to drive the lower connecting rod (3c) to rotate relative to the base (1). The collapsible structure (104) is located at the hinge position of the upper link (3b) and the lower link (3c).