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US4881754A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Safety device for the occupant of the central rear seat position in a motor vehicle

Assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
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Filing: 1988-08-29
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Granted: 1989-11-21
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Expires: 2008-08-29
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Abstract

Abstract In a safety device for the occupant of the central rear seat position in a motor vehicle the arm-rest present between the front seats is used for his or her effective protection in the case of a frontal collision. A pivoting drive, which engages the arm-rest, pivots the arm-rest out of its position extending approximately horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle towards the front seat back-rest in the case of a crash. The pivoting drive is connected to a sensor which detects a vehicle deceleration, and which trips the pivoting drive to erect the arm-rest when a prescribed value of the integrated vehicle deceleration is exceeded.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hans Lutze
  • 👤 Falk Zeidler

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 22:44
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/207; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/24; B60N2/42; B60N2/4207; B60N2/4214; B60N2/4221; B60N2/427; B60N2/42727; B60N2/42772; B60N2/4279; B60R2021/0002; B60R2021/0004; B60R2021/003; B60R2021/0039; B60R2021/0048; B60R2021/0206; B60R2021/022; B60R21/217; B60R2021/2173; B60R21/23; B60R21/231; B60R2021/23153

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 114 words
Safety device for the occupant of the central rear seat position in a motor vehicle, having an upholstered arm-rest arranged between the front seats which is constructed pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis aligned transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein a pivoting drive engages the arm-rest in order to pivot the latter out of a position extending horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle towards the front seat back-rests, and wherein the pivoting drive is connected to a sensor which detects a vehicle deceleration and which generates an output signal which trips the pivoting drive to erect the arm-rest when a prescribed value of the integrated vehicle deceleration is exceeded.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 114 words
Safety device for the occupant of the central rear seat position in a motor vehicle, having an upholstered arm-rest arranged between the front seats which is constructed pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis aligned transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein a pivoting drive engages the arm-rest in order to pivot the latter out of a position extending horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle towards the front seat back-rests, and wherein the pivoting drive is connected to a sensor which detects a vehicle deceleration and which generates an output signal which trips the pivoting drive to erect the arm-rest when a prescribed value of the integrated vehicle deceleration is exceeded.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting drive is constructed so that it pivots the arm-rest through a constant pivotal stroke into a prescribed end position and maintain it there locked against return pivoting.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein the upholstery of the arm-rest is of energy-dissipating construction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
Device according to claim 2, wherein the upholstery of the arm-rest is of energy-dissipating construction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein the deceleration sensor of a belt tensioning device, for safety belts of the vehicle occupants, present in the vehicle, is used as the sensor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
Device according to claim 2, wherein the deceleration sensor of a belt tensioning device, for safety belts of the vehicle occupants, present in the vehicle, is used as the sensor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 28 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting drive exhibits a traction cable which engages the arm-rest and a preferably pyrotechnical drive element connected to the traction cable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 56 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein a blocking device, which is interposed in the connection between sensor and the pivoting drive, is controlled by an occupation detector which senses the occupation of the central rear seat position so that the connection between sensor and pivoting drive is blocked when the central rear seat position is unoccupied.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 38 words
Device according to claim 8, wherein the occupation detector is arranged in the seat surface of the central rear seat position and when under load generates a release signal which cancels the blocking action of the blocking device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein the pivot axis of the arm-rest is retained on at least one front seat back-rest.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein the pivot axis of the arm-rest is retained independently of the front seat back-rest.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
Device according to claim 10, wherein the pivoting drive is integrated into the front seat back-rest which houses the pivot axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 20 words
Device according to claim 11, wherein the pivoting drive is integrated into the transmission tunnel which houses the pivot axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 49 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein the arm-rest is provided with an impact cushion, the inflation of which is tripped by the output signal of the sensor in the case of a crash, and which in the inflated state fills at least the space between the front seat back-rests.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 49 words
Device according to claim 1, wherein the arm-rest is provided with an impact cushion, the inflation of which is tripped by the output signal of the sensor in the case of a crash, and which in the inflated state fills at least the space between the front seat back-rests.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US3632132A Cited
DE1680081A1 Cited
US3617073A Cited
GB1327063A Cited
US3810653A Cited
US3672699A Cited
DE2058608A1 Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-11-20 1993-05-22 1993-11-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-11-20 1997-05-22 1997-11-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-11-20 2001-05-22 2001-11-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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