International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC

Patrick J Mattes

Erik K Nelson

Thomas R Graham

Erik C Wilson

A passenger seat for a multi-passenger motor vehicle having a body with a seat-mounting includes a seat frame mountable to the seat-mounting surface, and a rear seat frame engaged with the seat frame. A front frame is engaged to the seat frame and is located forward of the rear seat frame. The front frame is configured for translational movement with respect to the seat frame. A passenger restraint member is engaged to the front frame.

Occupant restraint passenger seat assembly with load-sensing energy absorption feature

A vehicle passenger seat active occupant restraint provides for absorbing energy from a passenger during sudden deceleration of a vehicle. The torso belt portion of a three-point restraint system is anchored using a spring and a displacement limiting linkage at the opposite end from its point of connection to the lap portion of the belt. During deceleration energy is transferred from the restrained occupant to the spring up to the displacement limit.

School bus passenger seat with energy absorbing occupant restraint

The invention provides a seat for a bus that has a movable front frame or seat back that a seat occupant rests his or her back against normally. The front frame is the mounting point for the upper portion of a three-point seat belt. The seat frame contains a rear passenger support wall or rear frame to protect a passenger of rearward seat from moving out his safety zone in a forward direction in the event of a rapid deceleration. The rear frame is part of the seat frame and only moves upon initial contact by a rearward-unbelted passenger impact. A rotation guide slot defines the amount of rear frame movement. The front frame is limited in the amount of its forward pivoting movement by a tether, spring or fluid dampener that is engaged to an immovable portion of the frame and thereby limits forward travel of the front frame.

School bus passenger seat with integrated restraints

The invention involves a two-piece seat for a passenger-carrying vehicle with the seat being capable of complying with the federal requirements with reduced complexity. A steel plate is rigidly attached to the rotating seat back. The steel plate will prevent the seat back from rotating during normal use. If the bus were in a collision, a belted occupant would apply load to the rotating seat back through the seat belts. The steel plate would deform, allowing the rotating seat back to come forward. The fixed portion of the seat back remains in position to act as a passive restraint for any passengers seated behind this particular seat. Utilizing deformable steel plates to retain and control the operation of a rotating seat back equipped with 3-point restraints is a unique aspect to this invention. The plates will retain the rotating seat back in normal use to prevent vandalism to the seat belts, and can be easily removed so the seat back can be rotated forward for servicing the seat belts and upholstery covers.

Motion controlling plate for seat and seat system for a mobile vehicle

The invention involves a seat system with a movable and immovable portions that may be maintained and still operate during transients as required under the federal regulations. There is a quick release serviceability latch for a school bus passenger seat with integrated restraints. The inner and outer seat backs must be quickly detached from one another to facilitate repair or replacement of damaged seat components. A movable plunger is rigidly attached to the inner seat back frame. Another bracket with hole to accept the plunger is rigidly attached to the back pan of the outer back. The attachment of inner to outer seat backs must be strong enough so that they can't be pulled apart by hand but at the same time be detachable in the event of a crash. A tab that engages the plunger separates upon a rapid deceleration event.

The invention involves shifting the location of the seat belt retractor in order to reduce the thickness of the seat especially in the lower regions for a mobile vehicle seat. The seat may be used for a mobile vehicle as a school bus as well as for automotive applications. The seat belt retractors are attached to a portion of the seat structure that allows the webbing to exit the retractor on the front surface of the seat back. The webbing is then allowed to cross over to the rear surface of the seat back as it rises to the turning-loop. The retractor may be located forward of the seat back pivot point on the seat frame in order to allow for the webbing to exit on the front surface of the seat back.

Retractor location for seat with integrated restraints for a mobile vehicle

The invention involves creating a thinner structured seat capable of complying with the federal requirements. The steel back pan is rigidly mounted on three edges to the back frame seat structure. The bottom of the back pan is unformed and allowed to flex in the fore-aft direction. The back pan is then covered with foam that may be one third as thick at the bottom as to thickness at the top of the back pan. The three to one ration of the lower to upper portion for the foam is important in achieving seat thinness. When seat spacing is measured at the h-point or cushion level, the knee protection zone is thinner than conventional seats and allows for a greater number of seats to be placed into a school bus. Utilizing a flexible steel back pan combined with foam in the proper ratios to absorb energy in the knee protection zone through the upper portion achieves the invention.

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Yoder, IN, United States of America

Patrick J Mattes