Patent ID: 6056366
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
A back frame for a vehicle seat in mounting relationship to a seat belt mechanism and comprising:a U-shaped composite seat back shaped channel having two side beam portions and an upper beam portion connecting the two side beam portions and having a C-shape in cross-section of sufficient depth to provide a protective environment for the seat belt mechanism;a lumbar panel on the front side of the seat back-shaped channel;a load transfer panel on the back side of the seat back-shaped channel being flexure-resistant and having a mounting surface adapted to mount the seat belt mechanism within the protective environment;the lumbar panel and the load transfer panel combining with the C-shape of the seat back-shaped channel to form a box frame sufficiently strong to resist back frame deformation due to frontal impact of the vehicle; andthe load transfer panel supporting a tensile-loaded strap to distribute loads applied to the seat belt mechanism during such frontal impact.