Vehicle seat back including a deployable device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9586552-B1
Application number	US-201514926492-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 29, 2015
Priority date	Oct 29, 2015
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

A seat back for a vehicle includes a frame and a deployable device. The deployable device includes a back panel fixed to the frame, a front panel opposite the back panel, and a cavity between the back panel and the front panel. The seat back includes an inflator in communication with the cavity of the deployable device. The deployable device is formed of a plastic material. During a frontal impact of the vehicle, the deployable device may be inflated from an undeployed position to a deployed position to absorb impact from an occupant of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seat back comprising:
a frame;
a deployable device including a back panel bonded to the frame, a front panel opposite the back panel, a cavity between the back panel and the front panel, and an intermediate portion extending from the back panel and the front panel;
an inflator in communication with the cavity; and
the back panel, front panel, and intermediate portion being formed of a plastic material.

2. The seat back as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the back panel is welded to the frame.

3. The seat back as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the back panel is adhered to the frame.

4. The seat back as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the frame is formed of a plastic material.

5. The seat back as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the back panel is welded to the frame.

6. The seat back as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the intermediate portion includes a fold along the cavity between the front panel and the back panel.

7. The seat back as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the fold is integral with at least one of the back panel and the front panel.

8. The seat back as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the fold encloses the cavity between the front panel and the back panel.

9. The seat back as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the inflator is disposed within the cavity.

10. The seat back as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the inflator is mounted to the back panel.

11. The seat back as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the inflator is mounted to the frame.

12. The seat back as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a housing fixed to the back panel in communication with the cavity, the inflator being disposed in the housing.

13. The seat back as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the housing is integral with the back panel.

14. The seat back as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a clip fixed to the back panel and to the frame.

15. The seat back as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the clip is integral with the back panel.

16. The seat back as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the clip includes a hooked end engaging the frame.

17. The seat back as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the thicknesses of the front panel is between 1-3 mm.

18. The seat back as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising trim supported by the frame and defining a tear seam.

19. A seat back comprising:
a frame;
a deployable device including a back panel fixed to the frame, a front panel opposite the back panel, an intermediate portion extending between the back panel and the front panel, and a cavity between the back panel, the front panel, and the intermediate portion;
an inflator in communication with the cavity; and
the intermediate portion, the back panel, and the front panel being integral with each other.

20. A seat assembly comprising:
a seat bottom;
a seat back extending transverse to the seat bottom and having a frame;
a deployable device including a back panel bonded to the frame, a front panel opposite the back panel, a cavity between the back panel and the front panel;
an inflator in communication with the cavity; and
the deployable device being formed of a plastic material.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Whitens Michael James
• Jaradi Dean M
• Farooq Iskander
• Faruque Mohammed Omar

Classifications

• B60R21/231

  characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration · CPC title

• B60R21/207 Primary

  in vehicle seats · CPC title

• B60R21/237

  characterised by the way they are folded · CPC title

• B60R2021/0048

  Head · CPC title

• B60R2021/23153

  specially adapted for rear seat passengers · CPC title