Deployable elongated member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10035441-B1
Application number	US-201715412172-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 23, 2017
Priority date	Jan 23, 2017
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

A seat assembly includes a seatback, an elongated member, a pyrotechnic device, and a wire. The seat assembly may be in a vehicle. The elongated member is rotatably supported by the seatback. The pyrotechnic device is fixed relative to the seatback. The wire is connected to the elongated member and deployably attached to the pyrotechnic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seat assembly comprising:
a seatback;
an elongated member rotatably supported by the seatback between a lowered position parallel to the seatback and a raised position transverse to the seatback;
a pyrotechnic device fixed relative to the seatback; and
a wire connected to the elongated member and deployably attached to the pyrotechnic device, the wire positioned to rotate the elongated member to the raised position upon discharge of the pyrotechnic device.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pivot connecting the elongated member to the seatback, wherein the wire extends at least partially around the pivot.

3. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the elongated member is manually rotatable relative to the seatback.

4. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pyrotechnic device is dischargeable from a ready state to a discharged state.

5. The seat assembly of claim 4 , wherein the wire is retracted into the pyrotechnic device in the discharged state relative to the ready state.

6. The seat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a control module in communication with the pyrotechnic device and programmed to instruct the pyrotechnic device to discharge in response to a vehicle side impact.

7. The seat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a seatbelt, wherein the pyrotechnic device is deployably coupled to the seatbelt.

8. The seat assembly of claim 7 , wherein the seatbelt includes a buckle and webbing including a clip engageable with the buckle.

9. The seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the pyrotechnic device is deployably coupled to the buckle.

10. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the elongated member is rotatably supported on a side of the seatback.

11. The seat assembly of claim 10 , wherein the elongated member has an interior side facing the seatback and the interior side is padded.

12. The seat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a seat frame supporting the seatback, and a seat bottom supported by the seat frame.

13. The seat assembly of claim 12 , wherein the pyrotechnic device is coupled to the seat frame.

14. The seat assembly of claim 12 , wherein the seatback includes a recliner mechanism switchable between an adjustable state in which the seatback is movable relative to the seat bottom and a fixed state in which the seatback is fixed relative to the seat bottom.

15. The seat assembly of claim 14 , wherein the elongated member is coupled to the recliner mechanism.

16. The seat assembly of claim 15 , wherein the elongated member is rotatable from a first position in which the recliner mechanism is in the fixed state and a second position in which the recliner mechanism is in the adjustable state.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Patel Deepak
• Deng Zhibing

Classifications

• B60R2021/022

  mounted on seats · CPC title

• B60R21/02 Primary

  Occupant safety arrangements or fittings {, e.g. crash pads (seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839)} · CPC title

• B60R22/1954

  characterised by fluid actuators, e.g. pyrotechnic gas generators (actuating a cable B60R22/1952) · CPC title

• B60R2021/0025

  Pole collision · CPC title

• B60R2021/0006

  Lateral collision · CPC title