Patent US5556129A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5556129A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle seat back with a head side impact air bag
Assignee: Hoover Universal Inc
•
Filing: 1995-05-16
•
Granted: 1996-09-17
•
Expires: 2015-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A seat back for a motor vehicle having a tower extending upwardly from the seat back upper end along one lateral side of the seat back. The tower contains an inflatable air bag which is deployable to provide head side impact protection for a seat occupant. By mounting the air bag within a raised tower, the air bag is deployed from a higher location in the seat back to reduce the possibility of interference between the air bag and a shoulder belt. Furthermore, by not mounting the air bag to the seat back head restraint, it is possible to provide a fully adjustable head restraint attached to the seat back and extending upwardly from the seat back upper end. A removable side bolster is also provided which covers the air bag canisters mounted to the seat back frame. Following deployment of an air bag, the bolster and air bag canister are removed and replaced with new components. This enables the seat assembly to be repaired without replacement of the entire seat assembly or seat back.
Inventors
- 👤 Sorin Coman
- 👤 Frank Wu
- 👤 Robert L. Demick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 06:10
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/207; B60R2021/0002; B60R2021/0006; B60R2021/003; B60R2021/0039; B60R2021/0048; B60R21/217
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A vehicle seat assembly comprising: a generally horizontal seat cushion having a rear end; a seat back extending upwardly at said rear end of said seat cushion, said seat back having opposite lateral sides and an upper end; a tower extending above said seat back upper end adjacent one lateral side of said seat back; and an inflatable air bag stowed above said seat back upper end within said tower, said air bag being inflatable to a deployed position extending forward from said tower to provide an air bag above the upper end of said seat back along said one lateral side adjacent the head of a seat assembly occupant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A vehicle seat assembly comprising: a generally horizontal seat cushion having a rear end; a seat back extending upwardly at said rear end of said seat cushion, said seat back having opposite lateral sides and an upper end; a tower extending above said seat back upper end adjacent one lateral side of said seat back; and an inflatable air bag stowed above said seat back upper end within said tower, said air bag being inflatable to a deployed position extending forward from said tower to provide an air bag above the upper end of said seat back along said one lateral side adjacent the head of a seat assembly occupant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a head restraint mounted to said seat back and extending upward above said upper end of said seat back adjacent to said tower.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The seat assembly of claim 2 wherein said head restraint is separate from said tower and further comprising means for adjusting the vertical position of said head restraint relative to said seat back upper end whereby said head restraint is vertically adjustable without affecting the position of said air bag.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising an inflator within said tower for generating a gas to inflate said air bag.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
168 words
A vehicle seat assembly comprising: a generally horizontal seat cushion having a rear end; a seat back extending upwardly at said rear end of said seat cushion, said seat back having opposite lateral sides and an upper end; a head restraint mounted to said seat back and positioned above said upper end of said seat back; means for adjusting the vertical position of said head restraint relative to said seat back upper end; a tower extending above said seat back upper end adjacent one lateral side of said seat back and alongside said head restraint; an inflatable air bag mounted above said seat back upper end within said tower, said air bag being inflatable to a deployed position above the upper end of said seat back along said one lateral side adjacent the head of a seat assembly occupant; and a shoulder belt for restraining a seat occupant, said shoulder belt projecting from said seat back at a location vertically below said air bag and extending downwardly therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
168 words
A vehicle seat assembly comprising: a generally horizontal seat cushion having a rear end; a seat back extending upwardly at said rear end of said seat cushion, said seat back having opposite lateral sides and an upper end; a head restraint mounted to said seat back and positioned above said upper end of said seat back; means for adjusting the vertical position of said head restraint relative to said seat back upper end; a tower extending above said seat back upper end adjacent one lateral side of said seat back and alongside said head restraint; an inflatable air bag mounted above said seat back upper end within said tower, said air bag being inflatable to a deployed position above the upper end of said seat back along said one lateral side adjacent the head of a seat assembly occupant; and a shoulder belt for restraining a seat occupant, said shoulder belt projecting from said seat back at a location vertically below said air bag and extending downwardly therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vehicle seat assembly of claim 5 wherein said shoulder belt projects from said tower beneath said air bag and above said seat back upper end.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4946191A
Cited
US4989896A
Cited
US5458396A
Cited
US5112079A
Cited
JPH04166452A
Cited
US5362132A
Cited
DE4218252A1
Cited
US5251931A
Cited
US5348342A
Cited
DE4231050A1
Cited
US5322322A
Cited
US5390950A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-17 | 2000-03-18 | 2000-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-17 | 2004-03-18 | 2004-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-17 | 2008-03-18 | 2008-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |