U.S. patent application number 09/970591 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-14 for vehicle restraint system with slidable seat.
Invention is credited to Chinni, James R., Merrick, David D..
Application Number | 20020030391 09/970591 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46278284 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020030391 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Merrick, David D. ; et
al. |
March 14, 2002 |
Vehicle restraint system with slidable seat
Abstract
A vehicle seat has a back portion deformable forwardly when
impacted from the rear by a passenger. A horizontally movable seat
platform is slidably mounted to the seat frame and has restraint
belts. The seat platform is normally held in an aft position until
forward passenger force is applied through the lap belts to the
movable platform during a crash.
Inventors: |
Merrick, David D.; (Cicero,
IN) ; Chinni, James R.; (Noblesville, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John V. Moriarty
Woodard, Emhardt, Naughton, Moriarty and McNett
Bank One Center/Tower
111 Monument Circle, Suite 3700
Indianapolis
IN
46204-5137
US
|
Family ID: |
46278284 |
Appl. No.: |
09/970591 |
Filed: |
October 4, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09970591 |
Oct 4, 2001 |
|
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09528744 |
Mar 20, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/216.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/42709 20130101;
B60N 2/42754 20130101; B60N 2/242 20130101; B60N 2/688 20130101;
B60N 2/4221 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/216.1 |
International
Class: |
B60N 002/42 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A seat for a vehicle comprising: a main frame mountable in a
vehicle and having a seat supporting frame and an upright back
supporting frame; a plurality of adjacent vehicle seats slidably
mounted on said seat supporting frame and each having a normal aft
position and a crash forward position, said seats movable from said
normal aft position to said crash forward position independent of
movement of said upright back supporting frame; and, a plurality of
seat belts mounted to said vehicle seats and slidably therewith to
restrain a passenger on each of said vehicle seats and to transmit
passenger crash loads to said vehicle seats.
2. The seat of claim 1 and further comprising: a plurality of
retainers securing said vehicle seats to said main frame in said
normal aft position but allowing said vehicle seats to move
independently of each other to said crash forward position when
passenger crash loads are applied.
3. The seat of claim 2 wherein: said seat supporting frame and said
seats are telescopically connected together allowing said seats to
slide from said normal aft position to said crash forward
position.
4. The seat of claim 3 wherein: said seat supporting frame includes
a plurality of channels extending in a direction from said normal
aft position toward said crash forward position with said channels
slidably receiving said seats.
5. The seat of claim 4 wherein: said back supporting frame has a
normal upright position and a forward leaning crash position, said
back supporting frame connected to said seat supporting frame and
movable forward from said normal upright position to said forward
leaning crash position when impacted from behind by a passenger and
pushed forwardly.
6. The seat of claim 5 wherein: said seats have edge portions
extending in a direction from said normal aft position toward said
crash forward position, said channels have recesses slidably
mounting said edge portions thereto.
7. The seat of claim 2 wherein: said retainers include fasteners
extending from said main frame into said seats.
8. A seat for a vehicle comprising: a main frame mountable in said
vehicle, said main frame includes a generally horizontally
extending base frame and an upright frame extending upwardly
therefrom; a seat with a seat frame and a back frame connected
together as a unit being slidably mounted to said base frame and
movable from a normal aft position to a crash forward position,
said seat further including a belt guide provided on said back
frame; and, a seat belt mounted to said seat and forming a lap belt
portion, said seat belt extending upwardly through said guide
forming a torso belt portion and movable with said unit from said
normal aft position to said crash forward position independent of
movement of said upright frame.
9. The seat of claim 8 wherein: said upright frame remaining
stationary as said seat slides forwardly from said normal aft
position to said crash forward position unless said upright frame
is impacted from behind and pushed forwardly.
10. The seat of claim 9 and further comprising; said base frame and
said seat frame are telescopically connected together.
11. The seat of claim 10 and further comprising: a retainer between
said base frame and said seat frame limiting relative motion
between said base frame and said seat frame until crash.
12. The seat of claim 11 wherein: said retainer includes a movable
member and a stationary member slidably connected together and
mounted to said base frame and said seat frame.
13. The seat of claim 12 wherein: said stationary member and said
stationary member include an aperture and an elongated member, said
elongated member extends through said aperture with relative
slidable motion between said aperture and said elongated member
occurring as said seat moves from said normal aft position to said
crash forward position.
14. A vehicle seat comprising: a main frame having a generally
horizontally extending seat supporting frame and an upright frame
connected together; a seat slidably mounted upon said seat
supporting frame, said seat having a normal aft position and a
crash forward position; a seat back connected to said seat and
movable with said seat as said seat moves from said normal aft
position to said crash forward position independent of movement of
said upright frame, said seat back has a first belt guide mounted
thereto; and, a first seat belt connected to said seat and movable
therewith as said seat moves from said normal aft position to said
crash forward position, said seat belt extending over said seat
forming a lap belt portion and upwardly to said guide forming a
shoulder belt portion.
15. The vehicle seat of claim 14 wherein: said upright frame is
rigid and stationary as said seat back moves apart therefrom to
said crash forward position unless said upright frame is impacted
from behind in which case said upright frame moves forwardly.
16. The vehicle seat of claim 15 wherein: said seat supporting
frame includes a plurality of parallel channels; and, said seat has
a plurality of downwardly extending brackets with said channels
extending slidably therethrough guiding said seat and seat back
from said normal aft position to said crash forward position.
17. The vehicle seat of claim 15 wherein: said seat back includes a
second belt guide mounted thereto, and further comprising: a second
seat belt connected to said seat and movable therewith as said seat
moves from said normal aft position to said crash forward position,
said second seat belt extending over said seat forming a lap belt
portion and upwardly to said second belt guide forming a shoulder
belt portion.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/528,744, filed Mar. 20,
2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
vehicle restraint systems including belts for securing an occupant
to a seat.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0003] School bus passenger seats usually do not employ active
restraint safety devices, but instead rely on a passive restraint
seat design. School bus passenger seats are built to specifications
conforming to the safety standards set by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, DOT. These are codified as 49 C.F.R.
Ch.V, .sctn. 571.222, Standard No. 222, and require that the seat
back bend or deflect forward when a force is applied to the rear of
the seat back. The code further specifies that 4000W inch-pounds of
energy must be absorbed within a maximum forward deflection of the
seat back of 14 inches and 2800W inch-pounds be absorbed within a
maximum rearward deflection of the seat back of 10 inches where W
represents the number of seating positions for which the seat is
designed. 49 C.F.R., Ch.V, .sctn. 571.222, S5.1.3-5.1.4. The code
specifies a passive restraint system, and does not require any sort
of active restraints, such as a two-point passenger restraining lap
belt or a three-point passenger restraining lap belt and torso
harness combination. Children riding the school bus are protected
in head-on collisions by the seat back in front of them deflecting
forward and absorbing some of their forward momentum.
[0004] Vehicles with deforming or deflecting seats provide special
problems regarding the integration of active restraint seat belt
systems. Passive restraint systems are designed to protect a
passenger who has been thrown forward by having the impacted seat
back deflect upon impact of the thrown passenger and absorb some of
their momentum. In a school bus seat combining active and passive
restraint systems, both of the restraint systems have to be able to
perform their functions and the seat must still conform to the
regulations set forth in 49 C.F.R.
[0005] In order to combine a deforming or deflecting seat with a
seatbelt, we have mounted the belt to a portion of the seat which
slides forward upon crash and away from the forwardly deforming
seat back. Thus, the seat conforms with the aforementioned
deflecting requirements but in addition includes a belt for
securing the occupant to the seat. In one embodiment, a plurality
of seats with seat belts are slidably mounted to the same seat
frame and independently of each other slide forward upon crash. The
U.S. Pat. No. 3,552,795 issued to Perkins et al discloses a seat
having a seat portion and back portion slidable forward upon crash.
The Perkins seat is not designed to provide an upright forwardly
deforming seat back in addition to a seat slidable forward upon
crash.
[0006] In the event a three-point seatbelt is to be utilized, it is
necessary to provide a shoulder belt guide that will move with the
seat as the seat slides forward upon crash. Disclosed is a
combination seat and seat back with a belt guide slideable as a
unit from the main seat frame in turn having a deflectable seat
back frame.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] One embodiment of the present invention is a seat for a
vehicle comprising a main frame mountable in a vehicle and having a
seat supporting frame and an upright back-supporting frame. A
plurality of adjacent vehicle seats are slidably mounted on the
seat-supporting frame and each have a normal aft position and a
crash forward position. The seats are movable from the normal aft
position to the crash forward position independent of movement of
the upright back-supporting frame. A plurality of seat belts are
mounted to the vehicle seats and are slidably therewith.
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
plurality of seats slidably mounted on the same seat frame with the
seats movable forward upon crash independent of each other.
[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
seat with a seat frame and a back frame connected together as a
unit and slidably mounted to a base frame having an upright frame
with the seat movable in the forward direction upon crash
independent of movement of the upright frame.
[0010] Related objects and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a pair of seats
arranged in a row incorporating a second alternate embodiment of
the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of one of the seats of
FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of one of the seats of
FIG. 1 only with a portion of the seat and belt moved to the most
forward crash position.
[0014] FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross sectional view
taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and viewed in the direction of
the arrows.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the preferred
embodiment of the seat incorporating the present invention with the
seat portions being shown in the aft or normal position.
[0016] FIG. 6 is the same view as FIG. 5 only showing the seat
portions in the forward crash position.
[0017] FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view
taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6 and viewed in the direction of
the arrows.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the first alternate
embodiment of the seat incorporating the present invention with the
seat portion shown in the forward crash position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the
principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the
embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will
be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood
that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby
intended, such alterations and further modifications in the
illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles
of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would
normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention
relates.
[0020] Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown
the second alternate embodiment of a pair of identical bench style
seats 20 and 21 typically used in a school bus. Each seat is sized
to receive multiple occupants with a separate lap belt provided for
each occupant. The seats have a tubular construction with the back
of the seat being forwardly deformable or deflectable upon rear
impact by a passenger located behind the seat back. The seat
portion of the vehicle seat extends generally horizontally and is
constructed to slide forward with the lap belts securing the
occupants thereto during crash as the seat back deforms
forwardly.
[0021] Seat 21 will now be described it being understood that an
identical description applies to seat 20. The exact construction of
seat 21 may vary; however, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and
3, the seat includes a main frame 22 forming a back portion 23 and
a seat portion 24. The main frame has a tube 25 including opposite
and downwardly extending tubular portions 27 and 28 extending from
the top 26 of the chair to the bottom 29 of the back 23. Tube 25
has a pair of forwardly extending tubular portions 30 and 31
located on the opposite sides of the seat portion of the chair with
the opposite ends of portions 30 and 31 joined at location 32 at
the center and front end of the seat.
[0022] A pair of left legs 33 and 34 and a pair of right legs 35
and 36 extend downwardly from the frame and are secured to the
vehicle floor. The top ends of legs 33 and 34 are joined to a
horizontally extending tubular portion 37 (FIG. 3), in turn,
secured to tubular portion 30 of tube 25. Likewise, the top ends of
legs 35 and 36 are joined to the opposite end portions of a
horizontally extending tubular portion secured to tubular portion
31.
[0023] A diagonal brace 38 has a bottom end fixed to the bottom
portion of leg 34 and a top end 39 secured to downwardly extending
portion 27 of tube 25. A similar diagonal brace 40 has a bottom end
fixed to the bottom portion of leg 36 and the top end secured to
portion 28 of tube 25.
[0024] A web 41 is secured to the top 26 and portions 27 and 28 of
tube 25 forming the seat back portion of the seat. The entire seat
back portion is enclosed within suitable upholstery.
[0025] The seat portion of the vehicle seat includes, in addition
to portions 30 and 31 of tube 25, a cross member 41 (FIG. 3) having
opposite ends joined to diagonal braces 38 and 40 or portions 30
and 31 of tube 25. A pair of stationary members 42 and 43 have
first ends fixed to cross member 41 and opposite ends fixed to the
opposite end portions 44 and 45 of tube 25.
[0026] Movable frame 46 is slidably mounted to stationary members
42 and 43. Frame 46 includes side tubular portions 48 and 49 having
front-end portions joined to cross member 50 and aft end portions
joined to cross member 51. Two interior tubular members 52 and 53
extend between and are joined to cross members 50 and 51. Fixedly
mounted to and depending from tubular portions 52 and 53 are
respectively sleeves 54 and 55 through which respectively
stationary members 43 and 42 extend. Sleeves 54 and 55 are freely
slidable upon members 43 and 42 allowing movable frame 46 to slide
from the rearward or aft position depicted in FIG. 2 to the most
forward crash position depicted in FIG. 3.
[0027] In the embodiment of the seat depicted in FIG. 2, the seat
is sufficiently wide to hold three occupants. Thus, three lap belts
have their proximal ends attached to cross member 51 with the
distal ends having mating tongue and buckle combinations. For
example, belts 61 and 63 have their proximal ends 62 secured to
member 51 with the outer or distal ends having respectively a
buckle and mating tongue. Thus, the lap belts move with the
occupant as the movable frame 46 slides from the aft position of
FIG. 2 to the forward position of FIG. 3.
[0028] Sleeves 54 and 55 are slidably mounted to tubes 43 and 42
but include fastening means for securing the sleeves and movable
platform in the most aft position as depicted in FIG. 2. The
fastening means may include conventional fasteners, such as, rivets
or shear pins. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, rivet 60 has a
shank extending through the adjacent side walls of sleeve 55 and
tube 42 with the opposite headed ends of the rivet being positioned
within tube 42 and external to sleeve 55. Sleeve 55 and platform 46
are normally held in the aft position by rivet 60. Upon crash,
forward force may be applied by the occupant to the lap belts
urging movable frame 46 forwardly while the main frame of the seat
remains fixed to the vehicle floor. Upon application of sufficient
force, rivet 60 shears allowing the movable frame 46 with occupant
to move to the most forward position as depicted in FIG. 3.
Simultaneously, a passenger sitting on seat 20 behind seat 21 may
impact on back frame 23 bending the frame forwardly to be in
accordance with the aforementioned regulations. A similar rivet
secures sleeve 54 to tube 43 and is shearable in the same fashion
as rivet 60.
[0029] A suitable upholstery material is provided on movable frame
46 and seat frame 22. Further, a planar member, such as a wooden
sheet may be attached to movable frame 46 and positioned
immediately therebeneath to provide a smooth surface to slide atop
portions 44 and 45 of tube 25.
[0030] Many advantages of the present invention are provided over
the prior art. For example, the seats designed in accordance with
the aforementioned federal regulations provide a protective
envelope in the event of a crash with the occupant striking the
cushion back surface of the seat in front of the occupant. By the
addition of the seat belts and the movable seat frame, the
occupants on the movable frame are further restrained.
[0031] The preferred embodiment of the seat incorporating the
present invention is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Seat 121 is similar to
seat 21 with the exception that seat 121 is provided with three
separate seat portions slidable upon crash to a forward position
independent of each other and with the exception of the manner of
slidably mounting the seat portions to the seat frame.
[0032] Seat 121 has a main frame 122 (FIG. 6) forming a back
portion 123 and a seat portion 124. Tube 125 has downwardly
extending tubular portions 127 and 128 extending from the top 126
of the seat to the bottom 129 of the back 123. Tube 125 has a pair
of forwardly extending tubular portions 130 and 131 located on the
opposite sides of the seat portion of the chair with the opposite
ends of portions 130, 131 joined at the mid point of the seat and
at the front end of the seat in a manner as previously described
for seat 21.
[0033] A pair of left legs and a pair of right legs extend
downwardly from the frame and are secured to the vehicle floor. For
example, legs 133 and 134 are joined to a horizontally extending
portion 137, in turn, secured to tubular portion 130 of tube 125.
Likewise, the top ends of the right pair of legs are joined to the
opposite end portions of a horizontally extending tubular portion
131. A diagonal brace 138 of the bottom end fixed to the bottom
portion of leg 134 and a top end secured to the top of leg 133.
Similarly, a diagonal brace is provided for the right pair of
legs.
[0034] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, seat 121 is provided with
three slidably mounted seat portions 140, 141 and 142; however, it
is to be understood the present invention includes a seat 121
having as few as two such seat portions or a number greater than
two such seat portions.
[0035] A pair of T-shaped brackets 143 and 144 have aft ends
fixedly mounted to tubular cross member 145, in turn, having
opposite ends fixedly connected to the bottom end portions 129 of
seat back 123. The forward ends 146 and 147 of brackets 143 and 144
are fixedly connected to tubular portions 150 (FIG. 5) and 152, in
turn, fixedly connected together at adjacent ends 151 with the
opposite ends being fixedly connected to tubular portions 130 and
131.
[0036] Brackets 143 and 144 form oppositely opening recesses for
the seat portions to slide from the aft position to the forward
crash position. Bracket 143 (FIG. 7) has a top wall 160 connected
to an over hanging vertical wall 161 forming recess 162 and 163
into which respectively the longitudinally extending edge portions
184 and 185 of seat portions 140 and 141 extend. Similarly, the
longitudinally extending edge portions 186 and 187 of seat portions
141 and 142 extend into the oppositely opening recesses 192 and 193
of bracket 144. A pair of right angle brackets 167 and 168 are
mounted atop respectively tubular portions 130, 131 and form
inwardly opening recesses 169 and 170 into which the longitudinally
extending edge portions 171 and 172 of seat portions 140 and 142
extend and slide. A pair of tubes 164 and 165 have opposite ends
fixedly joined to cross-member 145 and tubular portion 150 whereas
a second pair of tubes 166 and 167 have opposite ends fixedly
connected to cross-member 145 and tubular portion 152. Tubes 164
and 165 are located immediately beneath the longitudinal extending
edge portions 184 and 185 whereas tubes 166 and 167 are located
immediately beneath the longitudinally extending edges 186 and 187.
Thus, seat portion 140 slidably rests atop tubes 130 and 164, seat
portion 141 slidably rests atop tubes 165 and 166, and seat portion
142 slidably rests atop tubes 167 and 131.
[0037] A pair of shear pins 170 and 171 (FIG. 5) extends downwardly
through wall 160 (FIG. 7) and into respectively the longitudinally
extending edge portions 184 and 185 of seat portions 140 and 141.
Likewise, a pair of shear pins 172 and 173 (FIG. 5) extend
downwardly through the top wall 174 (FIG. 7) of bracket 144 and
into the longitudinally extending edge portions 186 and 187 of seat
portions 141 and 142. Shear pins 170-173 are operable to normally
retain the seat portions in the aft position. The shear pins will
shear allowing the seat portions to move to the forward crash
position once sufficient forward force is applied to the seats by
the passengers resting atop the seats with the force being applied
from the passengers through the respective seat belts attached to
the seat portions. Three separate lap belts 180, 181 and 182 are
secured respectively to seat portions 140, 141 and 142. Each lap
belt consists of a pair of belts joined together by a conventional
buckle tongue combination with the opposite ends of the pair of
belts being attached directly to the seat portion. For example, the
two belts forming lap belt 180 extend through seat portion 140 and
are fixedly mounted to the downwardly facing surface of seat
portion 140.
[0038] The first alternate embodiment of the seat incorporating the
present invention is shown in FIG. 8. In order to more clearly
illustrate the construction of the seat frames, the cushions and
upholstery have been omitted from seat 200 (FIG. 8) as well as seat
21 (FIG. 2) and seat 121 (FIG. 5). Seat 200 has a frame 201 similar
to the seat frame described for seat 121. That is, seat frame 201
includes a back frame portion 202 and seat frame portion 203 formed
by tubular members joined together. The tubular members extend
downwardly on the opposite sides of back frame portion 202 being
joined together at the top of the seat. The tubular members then
extend forwardly on the opposite side of seat frame portion 203
being joined together in the middle and the forward portion of the
seat frame as previously illustrated and described. A pair of left
legs and a pair of right legs are joined to and depend from the
seat frame portion 203 supporting the seat above the vehicle
floor.
[0039] A movable seat frame 210 is slidably mounted atop frame 201
and includes a seat back 211 joined to a seat 212. Movable frame
210 includes a horizontally extending upper tubular member 213
joined on the left side of the seat to a pair of depending tubular
members 214 and 215 and on the right side of the seat to a pair of
depending tubular members 216 and 217. The bottom ends of tubular
members 214 and 215 are fixedly connected to a horizontal and
forwardly extending tubular member 218 whereas the bottom ends of
tubular members 216 and 217 are fixedly mounted at their bottom
ends to a horizontal and forwardly extending tubular member 219.
Members 218 and 219 extend between and are joined to a rear
cross-member 220 and a forward cross member 221. Tubular members
218 and 219 are positioned above side tubes 250 and 251 of seat
portion 203 and slidably rest thereatop thereby providing support
for the movable frame 210.
[0040] Movable frame 210 is slidably mounted on a pair of inverted
c-shaped rails 230 and 231 fixedly mounted to seat frame 201. The
aft ends 232 and 233 of rails 230 and 231 are fixedly connected to
frame 201. For example, aft ends 232 and 233 may be fixedly
connected to cross-member 234 having its opposite ends attached to
the side tubular members of frame 201. Likewise, the forward ends
235 and 236 of rails 230 and 231 are fixedly connected to frame 201
and may be attached, for example, to the front tubular portion 237
of frame 201.
[0041] A pair of depending walls 238 and 239 are fixedly connected
respectively to tube 221 and 220 with horizontal wall 240 extending
between and connected to walls 238 and 239. Wall 239 includes an
inverted c-shaped opening 241 through which rail 230 extends.
Likewise, a pair of walls 242 and 243 depend from and are connected
to tubes 221 and 220 and are connected together by wall 244
extending therebetween. Wall 243 is provided with an inverted
c-shaped opening 245 through which rail 231 extends. Thus, frame
210 is slidably mounted to rails 230 and 231 and is movable from
the normal aft position whereat movable frame 210 is adjacent back
frame portion 202 to a forward crash position crash position (FIG.
8) wherein frame 210 is spaced apart from back frame portion
202.
[0042] A pair of three-point restraint belts 260 and 261 are
mounted to movable frame 210. The three-point restraint belts may
be conventional in nature having a pair of retractors 262 and 263
mounted, for example, to tubes 215 and 217 with the belts extending
from the retractors upwardly through a pair of D-loop guides 264
and 265 mounted to tube 213 with the belts then extending
downwardly across the shoulder of each passenger and then across
the lap of each passenger having distal ends 265 and 266 attached
to frame 210, for example, to tubes 218 and 219. A pair of
conventional seat belt buckles 266 and 267 are mounted to the
center tube 268 of the movable frame by suitable means, such as by
straps. Conventional tongues are slidably mounted to the seat belts
for engaging buckles 266 and 267 forming the lap belt portions.
[0043] Many variations are contemplated and included in the present
invention. For example, frame 22 (FIG. 2), frame 122 (FIG. 6) and
frame 202 (FIG. 8) may include a conventional mechanism for
allowing the seat back to recline. In the case of seat 200, the
present invention includes providing a reclining mechanism to allow
the seat back portion of movable frame 210 to also recline.
[0044] The seat shown in FIG. 8, is designed to accommodate two
passengers; however, a greater number of passengers may be
accommodated by the seat with a separate threepoint restraint
system being provided for each passenger.
[0045] The seat back portion 122 is normally upright and stationary
as previously described for the seat back portion 22 of seat 21.
Seat back portion 122 remains stationary as seat portions 140, 141
and 142 slide forward during vehicle crash unless the seat back is
impacted from behind by a passenger and pushed forwardly with the
seat back restraining the passenger located there behind. In such a
case, the passengers resting upon seat portions 140-142 are moved
away from the forwardly bending seat back portion 122. Likewise,
seat 200 has a seat back portion 202 which remains stationary as
the movable frame 210 slides forward during vehicle crash unless
the seat back portion 202 is impacted from behind by a passenger
and pushed forwardly with the seat back portion 202 restraining the
passenger located there behind. Nevertheless, the seat back 211 of
movable frame 210 remains upright and slides forward therewith;
however, seat back 211 does not bend forward even though back
portion 202 is impacted from behind by a passenger.
[0046] Rails 230 and 231 are oversized relative to openings 241 and
245 thereby providing a force fit between the rails and walls 239
and 243. Thus, movable frame 210 is normally held in the rearward
or aft position thereby positioning frame 211 adjacent frame 202.
Upon crash, forward force is applied by the passengers to the
restraint belts 260 and 261 thereby applying forward force to
movable frame 210 causing plates 239 and 243 to slide forwardly
along the length of rails 230 and 231. Alternative means may be
utilized to secure movable frame 210 in the aft position including
shear pins, tearable plastic members or other suitable means.
[0047] While the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be
considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it
being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been
shown and described and that all changes and modifications that
come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be
protected.
* * * * *