Seat construction of a vehicle

Claim 2

In a seat assembly for a vehicle having a floor (1), a seat (2 or 200), movable support means supporting the seat (2 or 200) so that the seat is capable of making a linear movement relative to the floor, and a stationary member (7 or 180) fixing the seat with respect to the floor so as to prevent the seat from moving relative to the floor, the improvement therein comprising, a releasable section included in said stationary member (7 or 180) and, an energy absorbing member (5 or 123 and 132) provided between the floor and seat so that when an impact having a force greater than a predetermined value in the forward direction is applied to the seat through said stationary member, the releasable section thereof releases the seat to permit the seat to make a rearward movement relative to the floor by the inertia of the seat and passengers and at the same time, the energy absorbing member is plastically deformed to reduce the impact applied to the passengers riding in the seat.

Claim 3

A seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, including bottom seat frame arrangement (120) fixed to the bottom of said seat (200), an elongated guide frame arrangement (100) defining a travel path for said seat frame arrangement (120), said stationary member (180, 161) pivotally joining said bottom seat frame arrangement (120) to said guide frame arrangement (100) towards the rear of said arrangements, sideplates (121) including sideplate deforming means (140, 170) operably connected between said guide frame arrangement (100) and said seat frame arrangement (120), said deforming means (140, 170) defining a path of travel first in the linear direction and afterwards in a pivotal movement, and stop means (150) limiting the linear movement and causing the pivotal movement to start.

Claim 4

A seat assembly as claimed in claim 1, including a seat bottom frame (21) with a rear end, disposed for linear movement, guide members (3) including a guide frame (31) and a slide frame (32) for sliding along said guide frame, a pivotal member (4) pivotally connecting said slide frame (32) and said seat bottom frame (21), and, stopping pieces (63) at a predetermined location along said guide frame (31) whereby when said impact is received and said releasable section releases the seat, said slide frame (32) will slide along said guide frame (31) until it hits the stopping pieces (63) before starting a pivotal movement.

Claim 5

A seat assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said energy absorbing member comprises a component capable of expansible and compressible deformation, wherein said expansion or compression plastically deforms said component against the internal resistance of said component.

Claim 6

A seat assembly for a vehicle, comprising in combination, a floor (1), guide means (3) supporting the seat so that the seat is capable of making a linear movement in the rearward direction with regard to the floor, a pivotal member (4) supporting the seat at the rear thereof so that the seat is capable of making a pivotal movement about an axis at the rear end of the seat lower portion, pivot limiting means permitting the seat to make a rearward linear motion in the initial movement of the seat and permitting the seat to make a pivotal movement after completing a predetermined stroke of the rearward linear movement, a stationary member (7) fixing the seat to the floor so as to prevent the seat from movement relative to the floor including a releasable section therein, and, an energy absorbing member (5) provided between the floor and seat, whereby, when an impact having a force stronger than a predetermined value in the forward direction is applied to the seat througH the stationary member, said releasable section will release the seat and the seat makes a rearward linear movement and then makes a pivotal movement with regard to the floor by inertia of the seat and passengers, while at the same time, the absorbing member is plastically deformed to reduce the impact imposed on the passengers riding in the seat.

Claim 7

A seat assembly for a vehicle, comprising in combination, a floor (1), guide means (3) supporting the seat so that the seat is capable of making a linear movement in the rearward direction with regard to the floor, a pivotal member (4) supporting the seat at the rear thereof so that the seat is capable of making a pivotal movement about an axis at the rear end of the seat lower portion, pivot limiting means permitting the seat to make a rearward linear motion in the initial movement of the seat and permitting the seat to make a pivotal movement after completing a predetermined stroke of the rearward linear movement, a stationary member (7) fixing the seat to the floor so as to prevent the seat from movement relative to the floor including a releasable section therein, and, an energy absorbing member (5) provided between the floor and seat, whereby, when an impact having a force stronger than a predetermined value in the forward direction is applied to the seat througH the stationary member, said releasable section will release the seat and the seat makes a rearward linear movement and then makes a pivotal movement with regard to the floor by inertia of the seat and passengers, while at the same time, the absorbing member is plastically deformed to reduce the impact imposed on the passengers riding in the seat.

Claim 8

A seat assembly for a vehicle, comprising in combination, a floor, a seat (200), guide means (100) supporting this seat so that the seat is capable of making a linear movement in the rearward and forward direction with regard to the floor, a pivotal member (170) supporting the seat at the rear thereof so that the seat is capable of pivoting about an axis at the rear end of the seat lower portion, a stationary member (180) fixing the seat with respect to the floor so as to prevent the seat from making a movement relative to the floor including a releasable section therein, and energy absorbing means (123, 132) provided between the floor and the seat, whereby, when an impact having a force greater than a predetermined value in the forward direction is applied to the seat through the stationary member, the releasable section of the stationary will release to permit the seat to make a rearward linear movement and a pivotal movement by the inertia of the seat and passengers and at the same time, the absorbing member is plastically deformed to reduce the impact applied to the passengers riding in the seat.

Claim 9

A seat assembly for a vehicle, comprising in combination, a floor, a seat (200), guide means (100) supporting this seat so that the seat is capable of making a linear movement in the rearward and forward direction with regard to the floor, a pivotal member (170) supporting the seat at the rear thereof so that the seat is capable of pivoting about an axis at the rear end of the seat lower portion, a stationary member (180) fixing the seat with respect to the floor so as to prevent the seat from making a movement relative to the floor including a releasable section therein, and energy absorbing means (123, 132) provided between the floor and the seat, whereby, when an impact having a force greater than a predetermined value in the forward direction is applied to the seat through the stationary member, the releasable section of the stationary will release to permit the seat to make a rearward linear movement and a pivotal movement by the inertia of the seat and passengers and at the same time, the absorbing member is plastically deformed to reduce the impact applied to the passengers riding in the seat.