Patent ID: 6074004
Filing Date: 2000-06-13
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
A seat assembly for absorbing energy from a crash involving a series of impacts by providing a seat back having greater rigidity in an aft direction than in a forward direction, comprising:a seat back frame having a first side member and a second side member, each of said side members having a hollow central region, said seat back frame structurally supporting said seat back; anda first elongated member and a second elongated member, each of said elongated members being flexible and having a first end, a second end, and a middle region between said first and second end, each of said elongated members being able to support a tensile load and unable to support a compressive load, wherein each of said elongated members is displaced under a compressive load;said first elongated member being disposed in said hollow central region of said first side member, said first end of said first elongated member being anchored to a front and lower portion of said first side member, said second end of said first elongated member being anchored to an aft and upper portion of said first side member such that said first elongated member is oriented substantially diagonally to a longitudinal axis of said first side member, said central region of said first elongated member being suspended;said second elongated member being disposed in said hollow central region of said second side member, said first end of said second elongated member being anchored to a front and lower portion of said second side member, and said second end of said second elongated member being anchored to an aft and upper portion of said second side member such that said second elongated member is oriented substantially diagonally to a longitudinal axis of said second side member;wherein an aft directed force on said seat back frame tensions said elongated members such that said elongated members support said seat back frame; andwherein a forward directed force on said seat back frame compresses said elongated members such that said elongated members are displaced and provide little or no support to said seat back frame.