Energy absorbing child seat fastener
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorGerald John Naujokas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy absorbing fastener apparatus is disclosed for fastening an integral child seat disposed within a primary passenger seat back of a primary passenger seat of a motor vehicle. The apparatus interconnects the child seat to a frame of the primary passenger seat back and includes a stress raiser to induce energy absorbing shearing and plastic deformation of the fastener apparatus.
Claims13
A passenger seating apparatus for use within a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, said passenger seating apparatus comprising:
- a primary passenger seat having a frame structure constructed to absorb energy by plastic deformation when subjected to a load exceeding a first predetermined amount;
- a child seat integrally disposed within said primary passenger seat;
- an energy absorbing plate member adapted to interconnect said primary passenger seat and said child seat;
- and
- a groove disposed on said energy absorbing plate member, said groove being operative to controllably absorb energy by inducing said energy absorbing plate member to shear along said groove when subjected to a load exceeding a second predetermined amount, said second predetermined amount being substantially less than the first predetermined amount.
A child seat fastener apparatus for fastening an integral child seat within a primary passenger seat in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, said fastener apparatus comprising:
- an energy absorbing plate member having first and second tabs and first and second edges extending therebetween, and a center portion substantially midway between said first and second tabs;
- said first and second tabs having apertures to receive threaded fasteners therethrough for fastening to said primary passenger seat;
- said center portion having an aperture to receive a threaded fastener therethrough for fastening to said child seat;
- and
- a stress raiser disposed on said energy absorbing plate member, said stress raiser being operative to controllably absorb energy by inducing said energy absorbing plate member to shear at said stress raiser upon application of a force to said center portion in excess of a predetermined limit.
A passenger seating apparatus for use in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, said passenger seating apparatus comprising:
- a primary passenger seat securely disposed within the passenger compartment including a primary passenger seatback;
- a child seat integrally disposed within said primary seat and having a child seat back;
- an energy absorbing plate member adapted to interconnect said primary passenger seat back and said child seat back;
- and
- a stress raiser disposed on said energy absorbing plate member, said stress raiser being operative to controllably absorb energy by inducing said energy absorbing plate member to shear at said stress raiser upon application of a force to said center portion in excess of a predetermined limit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.