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US 10,589,639 B2Granted
Catcher pin for dynamic management of external loads
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorThomas J. Susko
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle seating assembly includes a frame rail having a rear catcher pin. A seat frame slidably engages the rear catcher pin at a lateral support. A head of the catcher pin is vertically offset from the seat frame in a static condition. During an impact condition, the seat frame deflects upward and engages the head of the catcher pin to define a dynamic structure condition.
Claims20
A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
- a frame rail having a rear catcher pin;
- and
- a seat frame that slidably engages the rear catcher pin at a lateral support;
- wherein a head of the rear catcher pin is vertically offset from the seat frame in a static condition;
- and
- during an impact condition, the seat frame deflects upward as a result of an impact force defined by an extreme deceleration, wherein the seat frame engages the head of the rear catcher pin to define a dynamic structure condition.
3 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a frame rail attached to a vehicle frame;
- a side rail of a seat that is attached to the frame rail at a substantially inaccessible region;
- and
- a catcher pin that slidably attaches the side rail to the frame rail within the substantially inaccessible region, and having a head that is offset from the side rail in a static condition and engaged with the side rail in a dynamic structure condition that is indicative of an extreme deceleration during an impact condition.
1 more element
A method of attaching a seat to a vehicle frame, the method comprising steps of:
- attaching a catcher pin to a rear section of a frame rail;
- sliding the catcher pin through a slot within a rear portion of a cushion side rail;
- positioning the catcher pin beneath a lateral support of the seat, wherein the catcher pin is substantially inaccessible;
- securing the cushion side rail to the frame rail via fasteners, wherein the fasteners are disposed within a middle portion of the cushion side rail, and wherein a head of the catcher pin is vertically offset from the rear portion of the cushion side rail to define a gap that is indicative of a static condition, wherein the gap is configured to at least partially absorb an impact force resulting from an extreme deceleration during an impact condition.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.