# US 11,440,495 B2 · Occupant protection system for a vehicle seat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,495 B2 - Document ID: US11440495B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/231,807 - Filed: 2021-04-15 - Published: 2021-07-29 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-12 - Assignees: Lear Corporation - Applicants: Lear Corporation - Inventors: Arjun Yetukuri; Mladen Humer; Karl Henn; Peter Festag - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440495B2 ## CPC - B60R 21/055: Padded {or energy-absorbing} fittings {, e.g. seat belt anchors (sun visors B60J3/00; head rests B60N2/80)} - B60R 21/207: in vehicle seats - B60R 21/231: characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration - B60R 21/23138: {specially adapted for side protection (B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence)} - B60R 21/2334: Expansion control features - B60R 21/26: characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow {(arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10)} - B60R 2021/0032: {Position of passenger} - B60R 2021/0273: {automatically movable to an operative position, e.g. in case of collision or impending collision} - B60R 2021/0293: {Additional pads or cushions in vehicle compartments, e.g. movably mounted} - B60R 2021/23146: {seat mounted} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A seat assembly having an occupant protection system. The occupant protection system may have a deployable shield. The deployable shield may extend around multiple sides of the seat assembly, may extend at least partially around a front of a seat occupant when deployed, may be deployable along a dynamic deployment path based on a detected position of a seat occupant, or combinations thereof. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A seat assembly comprising: an occupant protection system having a deployable shield that is deployable along a dynamic deployment path based on a detected position of a seat occupant, wherein the deployable shield is deployable from inside the seat assembly to outside the seat assembly and includes a shield frame that has a plurality of frame members that define a plurality of openings in the shield frame, wherein the deployable shield includes a guide member that is mounted to a seat back of the seat assembly and to the shield frame, the guide member includes a sheath and a tensile member that extends through the sheath, and the sheath has a plurality of slits that extend partially through the sheath that allow the sheath to flex in response to tensile force exerted by the tensile member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the shield frame is received inside a shield cover that deploys with the shield frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the shield frame is deployable from the seat back of the seat assembly is at least partially disposed along a back side of the seat back prior to deployment and extends in front of the seat occupant after deployment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the deployable shield includes a shield cover that inhibits the seat occupant from passing through the plurality of openings when the deployable shield is deployed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The seat assembly of claim 4 wherein the shield cover is only mounted to the shield frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The seat assembly of claim 4 wherein the shield cover is in tension during deployment of the deployable shield and adjusts a travel path of the shield frame during deployment of the deployable shield. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the guide member exerts force on the shield frame that directs deployment of the deployable shield toward a center plane of the seat assembly in front of the seat occupant. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the tensile member is attached to the sheath at one or more points inside the sheath to bend the guide member upon deployment. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the sheath extends along an arc that is non-linear and extends between opposing ends of the sheath, the tensile member is disposed inside the sheath along an inner concave side of the arc of the sheath, and the slits are disposed along an opposing side of the sheath. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The seat assembly of claim 8 wherein the slits are spaced apart from each other and are disposed along a side of the sheath that is located opposite the tensile member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The seat assembly of claim 8 wherein the tensile member is disposed inside the sheath along an inner concave side of the sheath and the plurality of slits are disposed along an opposing side of the sheath. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the dynamic deployment path of the deployable shield is adjusted by reducing an effective length of the tensile member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the shield frame is completely disposed inside the seat assembly prior to deployment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The seat assembly of claim 13 wherein the shield frame is disposed along a back side of the seat back and a lateral side of the seat back prior to deployment. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The seat assembly of claim 14 wherein the shield frame extends along an arc as the shield frame extends around the back side of the seat back to the lateral side of the seat back. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The seat assembly of claim 13 the shield frame is disposed along a lateral side of the seat back prior to deployment. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The seat assembly of claim 16 wherein the shield frame is only disposed along the lateral side prior to deployment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The seat assembly of claim 16 further comprising a pair of shield actuators that are disposed proximate the back side of the seat back, wherein the pair of shield actuators are operable to deploy the shield frame out of the seat back. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The seat assembly of claim 16 further comprising first and second guide members that extend between the shield frame and the seat back, wherein the first guide member is coupled to a top of the shield frame and the second guide member is coupled to a bottom of the shield frame that is disposed opposite he top of the shield frame.