Abstract:
A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seat back having a cushion surface forming a bolster along a lateral edge thereof, a recess formed in the bolster, and a retractable seatbelt. When in a stowed condition, the seatbelt extends along the bolster between a top a bottom thereof, and a portion of the seatbelt passes over the recess to create a space between an edge of the seatbelt and the cushion surface. The recess is sized and located to enable a seat occupant to insert fingers into the space and easily grasp the seatbelt for deploying it. The recess may be a depression in the cushion surface, or may be formed by a first portion of the bolster having a first radius smaller than a second radius of a second, un-recessed portion of the bolster adjoining the first portion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) to GB 1420376.4 filed Nov. 17, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a seat assembly for a motor vehicle equipped with a retractable seat belt, and more specifically to such a seat assembly having a seat back with features for enabling easier grasping of the seatbelt when it is in a stowed or refracted condition. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Seatbelts, in particular rear seatbelts and seat-integrated front seatbelts, typically have the belt webbing lying flat against the seat cushion when in an unfastened and retracted (or stowed) condition. When the belt is being put on by a seat occupant (a user), the webbing has to be gripped by a user&#39;s fingers and pulled away from the seat cushion before it can be positioned over the user&#39;s body. This is normally an easy operation, however this may prove a more difficult task if the occupant is wearing thick gloves, or has impaired hand grip or mobility. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    According to an aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a seat back for a vehicle, the seat back comprising one or more features positioned between a top and a bottom of the seat back, the features being provided at one or more points on the seat back that are covered by a seatbelt in a stowed position, the one or more features being configured to expose an edge of a seatbelt to allow the seatbelt to be more easily gripped and deployed by a user. 
         [0005]    One or more of the features may comprise a local depression in the seat back. 
         [0006]    One or more of the features may comprise a raised projection protruding above the surrounding area of the seat back. For example, the projection may comprise a local peak in the surface of the seat back. 
         [0007]    By contrast, the projection may comprise a ridge. The ridge may extend in a direction with a component perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the seatbelt in the stowed position. Alternatively, the ridge may extend in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the seatbelt in the stowed position. A top surface of the ridge may be narrower than the width of the seatbelt such that the edge of the seatbelt may be exposed. 
         [0008]    One or more of the features may comprise a radiused edge portion. The radiused edge portion may have a radius that is different from a radiused edge elsewhere along the same edge. For example, the radiused edge may comprise a tight radius edge that may be provided at or near the edge of the seat back. The tight radius edge may be curved with a radius that is tighter (e.g. smaller) than the radius elsewhere along the edge of the seat back. 
         [0009]    One or more of the features may be configured to expose either or both edges of the seatbelt. 
         [0010]    The seatbelt may extend along a front face of the seat back from the top of the seat back towards the bottom of the seat back in the stowed position. 
         [0011]    A seat assembly may comprise the above-mentioned seat back and the seatbelt. The seatbelt may be configured to pass over the one or more features in the stowed position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1A  shows a perspective view of a seat back according to a first example of the present disclosure applied to a seat having bolsters; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  shows a perspective view of a seat back according to a first example of the present disclosure applied to a rear seat; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1C  shows a cross-sectional side view taken along line C-C of either of  FIG. 1A  or  FIG. 1B   
           [0015]      FIG. 2A  shows a perspective view of a seat back according to a second example of the present disclosure applied to a front seat; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2B  shows a perspective view of a seat back according to a second example of the present disclosure applied to a rear seat; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2C  shows a cross-sectional side view taken along line C-C of either of  FIG. 2A  or  FIG. 2B   
           [0018]      FIG. 3A  shows a perspective view of a seat back according to a third example of the present disclosure applied to a seat having bolsters; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3B  shows a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3C  shows a perspective view of a seat back according to a third example of the present disclosure applied to a seat without bolsters; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 3D  shows a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of  FIG. 3C . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIGS. 1A-3D , a seat assembly  2  for a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle, comprises a seat back  10 . The seat assembly  2  further comprises a seat bottom  20 . The seat assembly  2  may also comprise a head rest  30 , which may connect to a top  10   a  of the seat back. 
         [0024]    The seat back  10  may be part of a vehicle front seat or of a vehicle rear seat. The seat back  10  and seat bottom  20  may be separate components that may for example be held together by virtue of a seat frame. Alternatively, the seat back  10  and seat bottom  20  may be integral. The seat back  10  and seat bottom  20  may or may not be pivotable with respect to one another. 
         [0025]    As depicted in  FIGS. 1A, 2A and 3A , the seat back  10  may comprise bolsters  12   a,    12   b,  which are provided along respective right and left lateral edges  10   c,    10   d  of the seat back. An outer surface of the bolsters  12   a,    12   b  may be curved, for example in the transverse or horizontal plane shown in  FIGS. 3B and 3D . The bolsters  12   a,    12   b  may otherwise follow the contours of the remaining seat back  10 . 
         [0026]    However, as depicted in  FIGS. 1B, 2B, 3C , the seat back  10  may not comprise bolsters. A single seat, such as a vehicle front seat may comprise the bolsters  12   a,    12   b.  By contrast, a seat, which forms part of a bank or bench of seats, such as a vehicle rear seat, may not comprise the bolsters. 
         [0027]    It will be appreciated that the seat back  10  (including, when applicable, the bolsters  12   a,    12   b ) may comprise one or more cushions (of a type well known in the art) formed of foam or other resilient material covered in a membrane, such as a fabric, leather or other suitable material. The seat bottom  20  may be similarly cushioned. 
         [0028]    The seat assembly  2  may further comprise one or more seatbelts  40 . In a stowed position (e.g. before a vehicle occupant deploys the seatbelt), the seatbelt  40  may extend along a front face  14  of the seat back from the top  10   a  of the seat back towards a bottom  10   b  of the seat back. 
         [0029]    The seatbelt  40  when stowed or retracted may be disposed so as to rest on the seat back  10  with the seatbelt being flat, e.g. substantially flat, against the surface of the cushion of the seat back front face  14 . As depicted the seatbelt  40  may extend along or parallel to lateral edges  10   c,    10   d  of the seat back in the stowed position. The seatbelt  40  may be provided along or parallel to the lateral edge  10   c,    10   d  on either side of the seat back  10 , for example an inboard or an outboard (relative to the vehicle overall) lateral edge of the seat back. 
         [0030]    If bolsters  12   a,    12   b  are provided, the seatbelt  40  may rest on the cushion surface which forms the bolsters. Although the bolsters  12   a,    12   b  may be curved, the flexible nature of the seatbelt webbing may result in the seatbelt lying flat against the cushion surface of the bolsters in the stowed position. The bolsters  12   a,    12   b  may also comprise a substantially flat top surface or “crown”  12   c  to encourage the seatbelt to lie flat (e.g. as depicted in  FIG. 3B ). A flat stowed position for the seatbelt may be desired for aesthetic purposes. 
         [0031]    The seat belt  40  may be a 3-point seatbelt, which may be diagonally disposed across the body of a vehicle occupant when deployed. Alternatively or additionally, the seat assembly  2  may comprise a 2-point seatbelt  40 , which may not cross the torso of a vehicle occupant when deployed. Such a 2-point seatbelt may go over the shoulder of a vehicle occupant when deployed. 
         [0032]    In a particular example, the seat assembly  2  may comprise both of the above-described 3-point and 2-point seatbelts  40 . Such an arrangement may advantageously restrict forward and twisting movement of the vehicle occupant in the event of an accident. 
         [0033]    The seat assembly  2  may further comprise a seatbelt guide (not shown). The seatbelt guide may guide the seatbelt  40  over the seat back  10 . The seatbelt guide may be provided at or towards the seat back top  10   a,  e.g. to one side of the head rest  30 . The seatbelt guide may comprise a seatbelt retractor (not shown). The seatbelt retractor may pull the seatbelt  40  taut when in the stowed position such that the seatbelt lays flat against the cushion surface of the seat back. The seatbelt  40  may be anchored at or near the seat back bottom  10   b.  Alternatively, the seatbelt  40  may be anchored at or near the seat back top  10   a  and the seatbelt retractor may be provided at or near the seat back bottom  10   b.    
         [0034]    According to examples of the present disclosure, the seat back  10  comprises one or more features positioned between the seat back top and bottom  10   a,    10   b.  The features are provided at one or more locations on the seat back  10  that are at least partially covered by the seatbelt  40  in the stowed position. The one or more features are configured to expose one or both of the edges of the seatbelt  40  and to thereby allow the seatbelt to be more easily gripped and deployed by a user. Deploying seatbelts that lie flat on the seat back cushion surface can be difficult and, by exposing an edge of the seatbelt such that the edge is spaced apart from the seat back cushion at that location, enables the user to pass or insert their fingers between the belt  40  and the seat back  10  and thus more readily grasp and deploy the seatbelt. 
         [0035]    In a first example of the present disclosure shown in  FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C , one or more of the features comprises a local recess or depression  150  in the seat back. In the case of the particular example shown in  FIG. 1A , the recess or depression  150  may be provided in the cushion forming one or more of the bolsters  12   a,    12   b.  As depicted, the depression may extend across the width of the bolster so that the seatbelt  40  can be readily grasped from either side. However, it is also envisaged that the depression  150  may extend only partially across the width of the bolster so that the depression is accessible from only one edge of the seatbelt, for example from the side away from the occupant of the seat. Such an arrangement may be advantageous since it may better maintain the function of the bolster while permitting ready access to the seatbelt. 
         [0036]    Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 1B , where the seat back has no bolsters, the depression  150  may be provided at an edge  10   c,    10   d  of the seat back  10 . The depression may extend beyond the width of the seatbelt  40  so that the seatbelt  40  can be readily grasped from either side. However, it is also envisaged that the depression  150  may extend only partially across the width of the seatbelt so that the depression is accessible from only one edge of the seatbelt, for example from the side away from the occupant of the seat. 
         [0037]    As best depicted in the side sectional view of  FIG. 1C , sidewalls  151   a,    151   b  of the depression  150  may be sloped, e.g. relative to a bottom  151   c  of the depression. Alternatively, the sidewalls  151   a,    151   b  may be substantially perpendicular to a bottom  151   c  of the depression. Further still, the depression  150  may be curved, for example with the sidewalls and bottom of the depression being formed from a single curve. Such arrangements may assist neatly covering the cushion of the seat back  10  without puckering of the membrane which covers the resilient interior material of the cushion. 
         [0038]    The depression  150  may be sized to accommodate a typical hand. For example, the height of the depression  150 , e.g. the distance between sidewalls  151   a,    151   b,  may correspond approximately to the width of a typical hand. Alternatively, the height of the depression  150  may be greater than the width of a hand so that the seatbelt  40  may be grasped at any spot along a range of locations. The depth of the depression, e.g. the distance between the bottom  151   c  and the seatbelt  40 , may correspond approximately to the thickness of a typical hand or finger. In this way a user&#39;s hand or fingers may readily fit into the depression  150 . 
         [0039]    Furthermore, the depression  150  may be provided at a vertical location on the seat back that is lower than a shoulder of a typical seated vehicle occupant. Avoiding the shoulder area of the seat back may help to maintain the support function of the bolsters  12   a,    12   b  and reduce the likelihood of the occupant feeling the presence of the depression  150 . In addition, the depression  150  may be provided at a location that is convenient for a typical vehicle occupant to reach when seated and deploying the seatbelt. For example, the depression  150  may be provided at approximately a mid-height (half way between the top and bottom) of the seat back  10 . Such a position may be an optimal compromise between avoiding the shoulder region and enabling the occupant to grasp the seatbelt at a location that facilitates extraction of the seatbelt from the refractor. 
         [0040]    In a second example of the present disclosure shown in  FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C , one or more of the features may comprise a raised projection  250 . The raised projection  250  may protrude above the surrounding area(s) of the seat back  10 . For example, the projection  250  may comprise a local peak in the surface of the seat back. The projections  250  may or may not protrude from the bolsters  12   a,    12   b  as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  respectively. 
         [0041]    In the particular example shown two peaks are provided, but it will be appreciated that any number of such projections  250  may be provided. In the case of there being more than one projection, the projections may be spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the seatbelt  40 . The projections  250  may be spaced apart to accommodate a typical hand, e.g. the distance between neighboring projections  250  may correspond approximately to the width of a typical hand. 
         [0042]    The height of the projection  250 , e.g. the distance between a base  251  of the projection and the seatbelt  40 , may correspond approximately to the thickness of a typical hand or finger. In this way a user&#39;s hand or fingers may readily fit between the seatbelt  40  and the seat back  10 . 
         [0043]    In an example, the projection  250  may comprise a logo. The logo itself may form the projection or the logo may be provided on top of the projection. The logo may be embossed or woven into the seat back  10 . 
         [0044]    In an alternative example, the projection may comprise a ridge. The ridge may extend in a direction with a component perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the seatbelt  40  in the stowed position. Alternatively, the ridge may extend in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the seatbelt  40  in the stowed position. A top surface of the ridge may be narrower than the width of the seatbelt such that the edge of the seatbelt may be exposed. By way of example, the ridge may comprise piping, which may be provided at a seam. 
         [0045]    In a third example of the present disclosure shown in  FIGS. 3A-3D , one or more of the features may comprise a radiused edge  350  provided at or near the edge of the cushion of the seat back. As depicted in  FIGS. 3B and 3D , the radiused edge  350  may be curved (e.g. in the transverse plane of the seat back as depicted in  FIGS. 3B and 3D ) with a first radius  351  that is tighter (e.g. smaller) than a second radius  352  elsewhere along the edge of the seat back. 
         [0046]    The radiused edge  350  may be provided on a seat back  10  that may or may not comprise the bolsters  12   a,    12   b  as shown in  FIGS. 3A-B  and  3 C-D respectively. In the case of the radiused edge  350  being provided on a bolster, either side or both sides of the bolster may comprise a radiused edge. In the example depicted in  FIG. 3B  both sides of the bolster are provided with a radiused edge  350 . 
         [0047]    In the case of the radiused edge  350  being provided on a seat back without a bolster, the radiused edge  350  may be set back (e.g. in a lateral direction) from the remainder of the edge  10   c  or  10   d.  The radiused edge may join the remainder of the seat back front  14  at a point beneath the seatbelt (as depicted in  FIG. 3D ) or at a point laterally set back from the seatbelt (as depicted in  FIG. 3C ). In the latter case, the seatbelt  40  may then be readily grasped from either side. As mentioned above, the first radius  351  may be tighter (e.g. smaller) than the second radius  352  elsewhere along the edge of the seat back. However, in an alternative arrangement, the first radius  351  may be greater than the second radius  352 . 
         [0048]    The radiused edge  350  may extend along a portion of the length of the seat back edge  10   c,    10   d.  For example, as depicted in  FIGS. 3A and 3C  the radiused edge  350  may extend over a substantial portion of the length of the seat back edge  10   c,    10   d,  e.g. from close to the seat back top  10   a  to close to the seat back bottom  10   b.  In this way, the seatbelt  40  may be readily grasped at a range of locations. Alternatively, the radiused edge  350  may be provided over a smaller length of the seat back edge  10   c,    10   d,  e.g. with a length corresponding approximately to the width of a typical hand. 
         [0049]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example with reference to one or more examples, it is not limited to the disclosed examples and that alternative examples could be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0050]    While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.