Vehicle seat

A vehicle seat has shoulder restraints extending forward from a backrest. The shoulder restraints may extend forward of a seated occupant's shoulder, providing effective restraint of lateral movement. The seat may also include head and thigh restraints and a beam running horizontally across the backrest. The beam stiffens the backrest and may also stiffen the shoulder restraints or provide attachment points for fixing the seat to a vehicle roll cage.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to vehicle seats. In particular, the invention relates to seats for racing cars.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mass market vehicle seats generally include padded upholstery around a framework. The frameworks are generally complicated, allowing for adjustment of the seat. Such vehicle seats are usually not adapted to resist large lateral forces on an occupant of the seat, or to be fixed to a vehicle roll cage.

In vehicle seats for racing cars that, weight is very important. This makes complex framework undesirable. Also, users of seats in motor sports are likely to experience large lateral forces because of cornering at high speeds, loss of control of the vehicle or collisions.

Vehicle seats with forwardly extending side portions are known. Generally these side portions extend only a short distance from the seat's backrest and so do not effectively restrain lateral movement of the driver. One such seat is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,379. This seat includes triangular side portions that are widest at the top, formed from a tubular framework. As shown inFIG. 3, the side portions are padded to a laterally sloping shape, such that the ability of the seat to resist lateral forces on the driver is not strong. Furthermore, this structure is comparatively complicated and heavy. A similar seat is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,854. Again the “side restraints” do not extend far from the seat back.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,897 discloses a vehicle seat with a lateral head restraint. Again, this seat is a complicated structure. The seat does not provide lateral support other than around the head. US 2002/0038966 describes a safety seat with head protection members but not shoulder restraints.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle seat with effective restraint of lateral movement of an occupant in the shoulder region.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a vehicle seat with effective restraint of lateral movement of an occupant in the shoulder and head region.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a vehicle seat with effective restraint of lateral movement of an occupant in the thigh, shoulder and head region.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a vehicle seat with improved means of fixing the seat to a vehicle and particularly to a vehicle roll cage.

In a first aspect the invention provides a vehicle seat having:

a base and a backrest, and

shoulder restraints extending forward from the backrest,

wherein the shoulder restraints, in use, extend forward beyond the shoulder of a seated occupant and are adapted to restrain lateral movement of the seated occupant in the occupant's shoulder region.

In a second aspect the invention provides a vehicle seat having:

a base and a backrest, and

a beam formed integrally with the backrest and extending substantially horizontally across the backrest at about shoulder height of a seated occupant.

In a third aspect the invention provides a vehicle seat having:

a base and a backrest, and

a beam extending substantially horizontally across the backrest and including one or more fixture means adapted for fixing the seat to one or more structural members of a vehicle.

In a fourth aspect the invention provides a vehicle seat having:

a base;

a backrest;

shoulder restraints extending forward from the backrest; and

head restraints extending forward from the backrest;

wherein the shoulder restraints are adapted, in use, to restrain lateral movement of a seated occupant in the occupant's shoulder region and the head restraints are adapted, in use, to restrain lateral movement of the seated occupant's head.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a front perspective view of a vehicle seat according to the invention. The seat includes a base1and a backrest2. The base1includes thigh restraints3that extend upwardly from the base and restrain lateral movement of an occupant of the seat in the thigh region. Preferably the thigh restraints extend generally perpendicularly to the base.

Shoulder restraints4extend forward from the backrest2and restrain lateral movement of the occupant in the shoulder region. Preferably the shoulder restraints extend generally perpendicular to the backrest and extend forward of the shoulder of a seated occupant, to effectively restrain lateral movement of the seated occupant.

Head restraints5extend forward from the backrest2and restrain lateral movement of the occupant's head. Preferably the head restraints extend approximately perpendicular to the backrest.

The seat includes a number of fixture points6,7,8for fixing the seat to structural members of a vehicle framework. In particular, fixture points8are adapted for fixing the seat to a roll cage or other structural member of a vehicle. Preferably the seat also includes fixture points11,12near the ends of the head and shoulders restraints. These fixture points11,12may be fixed to the structure of the vehicle, or may be used to fix guide points for webbing type nets, for example.

The seat includes apertures9,10for allowing passage of a safety harness to restrain movement of the occupant in the event of a crash.

Preferably the seat comprises an integrally formed shell with padding, upholstery, coverings etc applied thereto. The outer edge of the shell is rolled to the outside along its perimeter, providing a strong, smooth edge.

FIG. 2is a rear perspective view of the seat ofFIG. 1. The seat includes a beam20that extends horizontally across the backrest2. The beam serves to strengthen the backrest and preferably extends forward along the shoulder restraints4. The beam20also provides fixture points8adapted for fixing the seat to a vehicle roll cage or the like. Preferably the beam20is formed integrally with the backrest2.

A second beam21may also be provided, extending horizontally across the backrest and extending forward along the head restraints. This beam may be linked with the beam20by a vertical beam22. The beams20,21,22may be formed in a single piece and may be formed integrally with the backrest. The assembly of beams20,21,22gives greater strength to the upper part of the backrest and especially to the shoulder restraints4and head restraints5.

FIG. 3shows a top view of the seat ofFIG. 1, showing the head restraints5and shoulder restraints4extending forward from the backrest2.FIG. 4is a cross-section through the seat, along the line G—G inFIG. 3.

FIG. 5is a side view of the vehicle seat.FIG. 6is a cross-section through the shoulder restraints4, along the line F—F inFIG. 5showing the profile of beam20.FIG. 7is a cross-section through the head restraints5, along the line H—H inFIG. 5showing the profile of beam21.

The invention provides a vehicle seat that provides effective restraint of lateral movement of a seated occupant in the shoulder region. The seat may also restrain the occupant in the head and thigh regions. As the seat is preferably integrally formed with one or more beams across the backrest, it is lightweight and strong. The seat is also more firmly fixed to the vehicle structure than prior seats. This leads to greater safety, but also allows a lighter seat with a less comprehensive framework.