Vehicle seat back including a pyrotechnic fastener

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9682662-B2
Application number	US-201514945910-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2015
Priority date	Nov 19, 2015
Publication date	Jun 20, 2017
Grant date	Jun 20, 2017

Abstract

A seat back for a vehicle includes a frame and an electronic display. A pyrotechnic fastener supports the electronic display on the frame. The pyrotechnic fastener includes a first portion fixed to the frame, a second portion fixed to the electronic display, and a pyrotechnic element. During a frontal impact of the vehicle, the pyrotechnic element may be activated to lower the electronic display resulting in increased travel space for the occupant.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seat back comprising:
a frame of the seat back;
an electronic display; and
a pyrotechnic fastener supporting the electronic display on the frame, and including a first portion fixed to the frame, a second portion fixed to the electronic display, and a pyrotechnic element releasably interconnecting the first portion and the second portion.

2. The vehicle seat back as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a guide receiving the pyrotechnic fastener.

3. The vehicle seat back as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the electronic display is rotatable relative to the guide.

4. The vehicle seat back as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the guide defines a slot receiving the second portion.

5. The vehicle seat back as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the second portion being moveable along the slot from a first position to a second position.

6. The vehicle seat back as set forth in claim 5 , further comprising trim supported by the frame and defining a cavity receiving the electronic display when the second portion is in the second position.

7. The vehicle seat back as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the pyrotechnic element is between the first portion and the second portion.

8. The vehicle seat back as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the pyrotechnic fastener extends along an axis, and the electronic display is rotatable about the axis.

9. The vehicle seat back as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the pyrotechnic fastener includes a shaft having the first portion and the second portion, the pyrotechnic element being disposed in the shaft.

10. A vehicle impact system comprising:
a seat back including a frame;
an electronic display;
a pyrotechnic fastener supporting the electronic display on the frame, and including a first portion fixed to the frame, a second portion fixed to the electronic display, and a pyrotechnic element releasably interconnecting the first portion and the second portion; and
a controller programmed to activate the pyrotechnic element in response to a sensed vehicle impact.

11. The vehicle impact system as set forth in claim 10 , further comprising a guide receiving the pyrotechnic fastener.

12. The vehicle impact system as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the electronic display is rotatable relative to the guide.

13. The vehicle impact system as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the guide defines a slot receiving the second portion.

14. The vehicle impact system as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the second portion being moveable along the slot from a first position to a second position.

15. The vehicle impact system as set forth in claim 14 , further comprising trim supported by the frame and defining a cavity receiving the electronic display when the second portion is in the second position.

16. The vehicle impact system as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the pyrotechnic element is between the first portion and the second portion.

17. The vehicle impact system as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the pyrotechnic fastener extends along an axis, and the electronic display is rotatable about the axis.

18. The vehicle impact system as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the pyrotechnic fastener includes a shaft having the first portion and the second portion, the pyrotechnic element being disposed in the shaft.

19. The vehicle impact system as set forth in claim 10 , further comprising impact sensors in communication with the controller.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Vinton Jeffrey Steven

Classifications

• B60N2/42

  the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats (for protecting children B60N2/26; arm-rests B60N2/75; head-rests B60N2/888) · CPC title

• B60R2011/0015

  Back-rests · CPC title

• B60R11/0229 Primary

  for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes · CPC title

• B60R2011/008

  Adjustable or movable supports · CPC title

• B60R11/0235 Primary

  of flat type, e.g. LCD · CPC title