Abstract:
An apparatus configured to move a vehicle seat away from a vehicle dashboard during or immediately prior to a collision. The apparatus comprises a vehicle seat coupled to a slideable platform. A vehicle collision detector communicates with the slideable platform so that when a vehicle collision condition is detected the slideable platform is triggered to move the vehicle seat.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to vehicle safety systems. More particularly, the invention concerns a method and apparatus to move a vehicle seat in response to a collision or imminent collision. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Many thousands of vehicle occupants are injured and killed every year in vehicle collisions or accidents. A variety of devices and systems have been integrated into vehicles in an effort to increase vehicle safety. These include seat belts, airbags, collapsible steering wheel columns and other features. 
     However, even with these safety devices vehicle occupants are still injured by striking the vehicle interior, especially the vehicle dashboard. In addition, the explosive force used to deploy airbags injures many vehicle occupants. 
     Airbag systems are being modified in an attempt to minimize or eliminate the injuries and deaths caused by vehicle airbag deployments. Still, children and other occupants that position themselves in close proximity to the steering wheel or dashboard will always be at risk of injury from striking the dashboard and from airbag deployments. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention can help minimize vehicle occupant injuries sustained by striking vehicle interiors, especially dashboards, and injuries associated with explosive airbag deployments when the occupant is too close to the airbag. 
     Broadly, the present invention provides a method for moving a vehicle occupant away from the dashboard and airbag. More specifically, one embodiment of the invention provides a vehicle with a vehicle seat, where the vehicle seat is coupled to a moving element, and a vehicle collision detector. The vehicle collision detector detects a vehicle collision condition—an actual collision or an imminent collision—and triggers the vehicle seat moving element to move the vehicle seat. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle seat is moved by a spring in response to a collision impacting the front of the automobile. 
     However, the claims alone—not the preceding summary—define the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The nature, goals, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing—illustrating by way of examples several embodiments in accordance with the present invention—in which like reference numerals identify like elements throughout wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an elevation view of one embodiment of the reactive seat system installed in a passenger car; 
     FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the reactive seat system illustrated in FIG. 1, shown in a before-activation position; 
     FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the reactive seat system illustrated in FIG. 2, shown in an after-activation position; and 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the chassis platform, trigger housing and related components of the reactive seat system illustrated in FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     It will be recognized that some or all of the Figures are schematic representations for purposes of illustration and do not necessarily depict the actual relative sizes or locations of the elements shown. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following paragraphs, the present invention will be described in detail by way of example with reference to the attached drawings. 
     Definitions 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which this invention belongs. In event the definition in this section is not consistent with definitions elsewhere, the definitions set forth in this section will control. 
     As used herein, vehicle can refer to many types of transportation including: aircraft; trains; trolleys; carriages; watercraft including ships, boats and personal watercraft; and automobiles including passenger vehicles, trucks, vans and buses. 
     As used herein, vehicle collision condition refers to collision of vehicle with another object or a collision about to occur between a vehicle and another object. 
     General 
     Throughout this description, the preferred embodiment and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than as limitations on the present invention. 
     As shown in the drawing for purposes of illustration, a reactive seat system according to the invention moves vehicle occupants away from a vehicle dashboard during or immediately before a collision. 
     A reactive seat system according to the invention provides a way to prevent vehicle occupant injuries by using a movable seat platform that moves the vehicle occupant away from the dashboard and airbags mounted in the dashboard and steering wheel during a vehicle collision. The reactive seat system is easily integrated into existing vehicles and can be configured to use airbag or other types of sensors. 
     Structure 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the reactive seat system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is illustrated and designated generally by the numeral  10 . A vehicle  2  has a conventional steering wheel  3 , a dashboard  4  and a vehicle seat  5 . Front sensor  6  is mounted in the front area of the vehicle and rear sensor  1  is mounted in the rear area of the vehicle. Airbag system sensors can be used, or other sensors that detect impacts or sudden vehicle accelerations or decelerations. Alternative embodiments may use sensors that can predict imminent vehicle collisions so that the reactive seat system can be triggered immediately prior to a vehicle collision. A mechanical sensor employing a spring mounted in the vehicle bumpers is employed in one embodiment. The spring keeps the reactive seat system from triggering after minor impacts such as those encountered during vehicle parking. The spring absorbs the small bumper deflections resulting from incidental collisions. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, a seat platform  20  and a chassis platform  21  is mounted to a vehicle chassis  9  underneath the vehicle seat  5 . The platforms may be attached directly to the seat, replacing the traditional seat positioning rails, or they may be attached to the seat positioning rails and to the vehicle chassis. In one embodiment, biasing means or propulsive device  8  is mounted to the seat platform  20 , as shown in FIGS,  1 - 3 . The propulsive device may be a propellant charge cartridge, an ignitable solid gas generating composition, a pyrotechnic composition or a mechanical spring. 
     The sensors  1  and  6  are electrically or mechanically connected to the propulsive device  8 . In a preferred embodiment airbag sensors are electrically connected to a propellant charge cartridge mounted on the seat platform  20 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, one embodiment of the reactive seat system is illustrated. Sensors  1  and  6  comprise springs mounted in the front and rear bumpers  11  of vehicle  2 . Rods  12  connect the sensors to cam actuators  13  that are positioned in housings  14 . In this embodiment the housings attach chassis platform  21  to the vehicle chassis, or frame rail  9 . Pivoting cam followers  15  and  17  that pivot about pivot points  23  and  25 , respectively, are also located in the housings and have wheels  16  or another suitable type of sliding or rolling surface to engage the cam actuators  13 . Both cam followers engage each other in the trigger housing  18  that is also attached to the chassis platform  21 . Front cam follower  15  has an L-shaped end, or trigger  19  that sticks up through the chassis platform and into the seat platform  20 , locking the seat platform into a fixed position. For activation by the rear sensor  1 , rear cam follower  17  has a forked end, shown in FIG. 4, that engages the front cam follower and can pull the trigger  19  downward, releasing the seat platform, as shown in FIG.  3 . Biasing spring  24  keeps the trigger firmly engaged with the seat platform  20 , and prevents accidental triggering of the reactive seat system. 
     Seat platform  20  is connected to the chassis platform  21  by roller bearings  22 , or other suitable rolling or sliding devices the permit relative movement between the chassis platform and the seat platform. Seat  5  is attached to the seat platform and is used by the vehicle driver or one or more passengers. The seat can be of a bench-type, usually found in trucks, or it can be designed to accommodate only one individual. The reactive seat system can be adapted to fit seats found on any type of vehicle such as aircraft, watercraft or ground vehicles. 
     Operation 
     The reactive seat system provides a method for moving a vehicle occupant away from the dashboard during, or immediately prior to, an accident. Front and rear sensors,  1  and  6  respectively, are activated during a vehicle collision. Activation can be based upon collision with an object or from sensing deceleration forces. An alternative embodiment sensor detects collisions that are about to occur and triggers the reactive seat system immediately prior to the collision. This type of sensor could use RADAR, charge-coupled video, or other suitable devices. 
     Sensors are electrically or mechanically connected to the biasing device  8 . In one embodiment the biasing device is a spring but other embodiments the biasing device comprises a propellant charge cartridge, an ignitable solid gas generating composition, a pyrotechnic composition or other suitable devices. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, when front sensor  6  detects a frontal collision it sends cam actuator  13  into engagement with wheel  16 , which pivots cam follower  15  about pivot point  23 . The L-shaped end, or trigger  19  of the cam follower pivots down into the trigger housing  18  releasing seat platform  20 . Spring  8  is released and pushes seat platform  21  and seat  5 , mounted thereon, rearward in the vehicle away from the dashboard  4  preventing the seat occupant from sustaining impact injuries with the dashboard. 
     Alternative embodiments use airbag sensors to detect the vehicle collision. The airbag sensors are electrically connected to a power apparatus or biasing means mounted on the seat platform  20 . As discussed above the power apparatus can be a propellant charge cartridge, an ignitable solid gas generating composition, a pyrotechnic composition or other suitable device. 
     Other Embodiments 
     Certain preferred embodiments have been described above. It is to be understood that a latitude of modification and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and that these modifications and substitutions are within the literal scope—or are equivalent to—the claims that follow. 
     In some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. For example, in an embodiment that uses airbag sensors and gas generating power devices, many of the mechanical elements shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be removed or modified. 
     Accordingly, it is appropriate that the following claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein described.