United States Patent [191
`Watanabe et al.
`
`|ummmllmumumliggggqgggggymlumnmmnllmln
`
`[11] Patent‘Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,203,600
`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`[54] APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING A REAR
`PASSENGER FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE
`VEHICLE
`[75] Inventors: Yasukazu Watanabe; Hidemi Aoki;
`Masatoshi Takayama; Tadashi Ioka;
`Katsumi Sakane; Noritaka Sakiyama;
`Yasunari Hirotani; Naomi Mitani;
`Kazuhiro Ushijima, all of Hiroshima,
`Japan
`Mazda Motor Corporation,
`Hiroshima, Japan
`[21] Appl. No.: 723,904
`[22] Filed:
`Jul. 1, 1991
`[30]
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Jun. 29, 1990 [JP]
`Japan
`.... .. 2-173262
`Jun. 29, 1990 [JP]
`Japan
`.... .. 2-173824
`Sep. 27, 1990 [JP]
`Japan
`.... .. 2-258703
`Sep. 27, 1990 [JP]
`Japan ................................ .. 2258704
`
`[73] Assignee:
`
`[51] Int. Cl.5 ............................................. .. B60N 2/22
`[52] U.S. Cl. ................................. .. 296/68.1; 297/361;
`180/282
`[58] Field of Search .............. .. 297/330, 361; 180/271,
`180/282; 296/68. 1, 65.1
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2,140,423 12/1988 Frees ................................ .. 296/65.1
`4,729,538 3/1988 Bergacketet al.
`~296/65.l
`4,907,153 3/1990 Brodsky ........................... .. 296/65.l
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1405239 3/1969 Fed. Rep. of Germany
`296/65.1
`2836004 3/1980 Fed. Rep. of Germany .... .. 297/330
`175438 10/1982 Japan ................................ .. 296/65.l
`
`'
`
`Primary Examiner-Karin L. Tyson
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fish & Richardson
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`An automotive vehicle has a rear header disposed at a
`rear end of the roof and above a rear seat. For example,
`in the event where the automotive vehicle is about to
`roll, the seat back of the rear seat is leaned forwards and
`the upper end portion of the seat back is leaned for
`wards, thereby forcibly repositioning the head of the
`rear passenger seated on the rear seat to the position
`remoter from the back window panel.
`
`12 Claims, 23 Drawing Sheets
`
`1
`
`Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, Petitioner - Ex. 1003
`
`

`

`US; Patent
`US; Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 1993
`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 1 of 23
`Sheet 1 of 23
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`5,203,600
`5,203,600
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`FIG.|
`FIG.|
`
`
`
`
`
`2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 1993
`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 2 of 23
`Sheet 2 of 23
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`5,203,600
`5,203,600
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`FIG.2
`
`
`
`3
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 1993
`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 3 of 23
`Sheet 3 of 23
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`5,203,600
`5,203,600
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`
`
`4
`
`

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`US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 1993
`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 4 of 23
`Sheet 4 0f 23
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`5,203,600
`5,203,600
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`FIG.6
`Flags
`
`
`
`5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 1993
`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 5 of 23
`Sheet 5 of 23
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`5,203,600
`5,203,600
`
`.
`‘9
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`LL.
`
` no
`
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`9‘ ‘0}.
`mm mm m
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`LL.
`
`6
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 20,1993
`
`Sheet 6 of 23
`
`5,203,600
`
`F I G . 9
`
`T
`?s
`LEFT-HAN) FRONT
`gNHEEL STROKE SENSOR
`
`5
`
`.
`
`{55
`I‘ MANUAL SWITCH
`
`575
`\LEFT-HAND REAR
`_\6NHEEL STROKE SENSOR
`5
`
`|
`
`CONTROL vcu
`UNIT
`»
`'
`
`WHE L T
`
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`
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`I__
`'~ MOTOR 3/
`‘
`l 53
`ACTUATOR j
`
`|
`37
`
`7
`
`

`

`U.S; Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 7 of 23
`
`5,203,600
`
`FIG.IO
`
`( ‘START )
`
`READ SENSOR
`OUTPUT
`
`0
`
`52
`
`‘ NO
`
`FULL REBOUND ?
`
`YES
`
`5
`
`' " ER SEAT
`BKLEAD
`RWARD
`9
`
`RATION
`
`DRIVE AT
`LOW SPEED
`
`DRIVE AT
`HIGH SPEED
`
`( RETURN )
`
`8
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Apr.’ 20, 1993
`Apr; 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 8 of 23
`Sheet 8 of 23
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`5,203,600
`5,203,600
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`
`
`_ MCU
`
`9
`
`

`

`US; Patent
`US.‘ Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 1993
`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 9 of 23
`Sheet 9 of 23
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`5,203,600
`5,203,600
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`
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 1993
`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 10 of 23
`Sheet 10 of 23
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`5,203,600
`5,203,600
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`
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 1993
`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 11 of 23
`Sheet 11 of 23
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`5,203,600
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`
`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 1993
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`Sheet 12 of 23
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`5,203,600
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`FBQNT
`
`_-______
`
`13
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`US. Patent
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`Apr. 20, 1993
`Apr. 20, 1993
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`Sheet 13 of 23
`Sheet 13 of 23
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`[-15.19
`
`
`
`14
`
`14
`
`

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`US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 20,—1993
`Apr. 20(1993
`
`Sheet 14 of 23
`Sheet 14 of 23
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`FIG..20
`
`
`
`15
`
`15
`
`

`

`US; Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 15 of 23
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`5,203,600
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`FIG.2|
`
` , 17—1121.--
`
`(.f “ ‘~
`‘
`‘
`
`FRONT
`.—
`
`16
`
`16
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 1993
`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 16 of 23
`Sheet 16 of 23
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`
`
`17
`
`17
`
`

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`US. Patent
`US. Patent
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`Apr. 20, 1993
`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 17 of 23
`Sheet 17 of 23
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`5,203,600
`5,203,600
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`FIG.24
`FIG.24
`
`CU
`
`
`
`18
`
`18
`
`

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`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 18 of 23
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`FIG.25
`
`
`
`'.
`
`19
`
`19
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 1993
`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 19 of 23
`Sheet 19 of 23
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`5,203,600
`5,203,600
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`FIG.27
`F|G.27
`
`}
`
`'FIG.2-8
`'FIG'ZB
`
`~u—ma~ 108
`
`107
`
`Z
`
`106
`
`“529
`
`FIG.30
`
` 101
`
`100
`
`70
`
`20
`
`20
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, i993
`
`Sheet 20 Iof 23
`
`5,203,600
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`FIG.3|
`
`120
`
`’
`
`5
`
`120
`
`
`
`21
`
`21
`
`

`

`U.S.' Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 21 of 23
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`5,203,600
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`
`
`22
`
`22
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`'
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`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 22 of 23
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`5,203,600
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`FIG.35
`
`
`
`23
`
`23
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 20, 1993
`
`Sheet 23 of 23
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`5,203,600
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`
`
`
`
`5
`/
`I
`I’lllllllill’llllllllll VIN ,
`
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`‘34
`
`136133
`
`135
`
`132
`
`24
`
`24
`
`

`

`1
`
`5,203,600
`
`APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING A REAR
`PASSENGER FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to an apparatus for
`protecting a rear passenger seated on a rear seat for an
`automotive vehicle.
`
`2. Description of Related Art
`Recent years, in order to meet diversified demands of
`consumers and provide passengers with wider rear'
`view and more open feeling, automotive vehicles have
`been provided which have an overall outlook designed
`in a smoothly curved shape and which is provided with
`a back window panel having a panel area wider than
`conventional ones.
`As disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-open
`Publication (kokai) No. 194,037/1‘988, there is the re-
`cently increasing tendency that a rear header is disposed
`above a rear seat from the point of view of designing or
`enlarging a space within a vehicle compartment. In
`other words, for such automotive vehicles, the rear
`header is disposed above the head of the rear passenger
`seated on the rear seat, as a reinforcing member located
`at a rear end of the roof, and the back window panel is
`disposed to be directed in an obliquely downward di-
`rection from the rear header. Hence, the position of the
`rear header relative to the rear seat is moved to the
`forward position of the vehicle body as compared with'
`conventional ones.
`When the position of the rear header relative to the
`rear seat is moved in the forward direction as compared
`with conventional ones, a glass panel area of the back
`window glass can be made so wider than the conven-
`tional ones that an enlarged rear View can be given,
`thereby providing the passenger with open feeling. It is
`to be noted, however, that, for example, when the rear
`passenger seated on the rear seat is caused to be lifted
`upwards by full rebounding the vehicle body particu-
`larly in the event that the automotive vehicle is about to
`roll, or for other reasons, the head of the rear passenger
`may come close to the back window panel or a view
`outside the automotive vehicle may catch an eye of the
`rear passenger in such a state that the passenger is lifted
`upwards, so that this provides the rear passenger with
`psychologically great anxiety.
`However, conventional automotive vehicles cannot
`wipe out such psychological anxiety on the part of the
`rear passenger due to, among others, a lack of the free-
`dom of arranging for the rear portion of the vehicle
`body, particularly for the position of the rear header in
`the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, i.e. the
`size of the back window panel.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is to provide an apparatus for
`protecting a rear passenger seated on a rear seat so
`adapted as to provide the rear passenger with psycho-
`logical freedom from anxiety when the rear passenger is
`caused to be lifted upwards in such a state that the rear
`passenger is seated on the rear seat.
`In order to achieve the aforesaid object, one aspect of
`the present invention consists of an apparatus for pro-
`tecting a rear passenger seated on a rear seat for an
`automotive vehicle having a rear header so disposed at
`a rear end portion of a roof and above a rear seat in a
`transverse direction of a vehicle body as to support an
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`2
`upper end of a back window pane] disposed at a rear
`portion of a vehicle compartment, characterized by:
`a first moving mechanism disposed at the rear seat to
`move at least an upper end portion of the seat back
`forwards;
`first driving means so associated with the first moving
`mechanism as to move at least the upper end portion of
`the seat back forwards;
`detecting means for detecting the possibility of mov-
`ing the rear passenger seated on the rear seat upwards
`from the rear seat in such a state that the rear passenger
`is seated thereon; and
`first control means for controlling operation of the
`first driving means so as to move at least the upper end
`portion of the seat back forwards when it is determined
`on the basis of a signal from the detecting means that
`there is the possibility of moving the rear passenger
`upwards from the rear seat in a state in which the rear
`passenger is seated thereon.
`This first aspect of the present invention can forcibly
`move at least the head of the rear passenger forwards by
`displacing at least the upper end portion of the seat back
`forwards when the automotive vehicle is about to roll.
`In other words, the rear passenger is caused to be forci-
`bly moved to the position remote from the back win-
`dow panel so that the physical anxiety of the rear pas-
`senger can be wiped out.
`In another aspect, the present invention consists of an
`apparatus for protecting a rear passenger seated on a
`rear seat for an automotive vehicle having a rear header
`so disposed at a rear end portion of a roof and above a
`rear seat in a transverse direction of a vehicle body as to
`support an upper end of a back window panel disposed
`at a rear portion of a vehicle compartment, character-
`ized by:
`a second moving mechanism so disposed as to move
`at least an upper end portion of the seat back of the rear
`seat upwards,
`second driving means so associated with the second
`moving mechanism as to move at least the upper end
`portion of the seat back of the rear seat upwards;
`detecting means for detecting the possibility of mov-
`ing the rear passenger seated on the rear seat upwards
`from the rear seat in such a state that the rear passenger
`is seated thereon; and
`second control means for controlling operation of the
`second driving means so as to move at least the upper
`end portion of the seat back upwards when it is deter-
`mined in response to a signal from the detecting means
`that there is the possibility of moving the rear passenger
`upwards from the rear seat in a state in which the rear
`passenger is seated thereon.
`This second aspect of the present invention is so
`adapted as to remove psychological anxiety from the
`rear passenger seated on the rear seat, for example,in
`the event that the automotive vehicleis about to roll, by
`displacing at least the upper end portion of the seat back
`of the rear seat upwards and thereby shortening a dis-
`tance between the upper end of the seat back and the
`rear header. In other words, at least the upper end por-
`tion of the seat backis allowed to move upwardsin such
`a manner that it is associated with a lifting movement of
`the rear passenger seated on the rear seat, so that the.
`upper end portion of the seat back can prevent the head
`of the fear passenger from approaching to the back
`window panel.
`
`,
`
`25
`
`25
`
`

`

`3
`In a further aspect, the present invention consists of
`an apparatus for protecting a rear passenger seated on a
`rear seat for an automotive vehicle having a rear header
`so disposed at a rear end portion of a roof and above a
`rear seat in a transverse direction of a vehicle body as to
`support an upper end of a back window pane] disposed
`at a rear portion of a vehicle compartment, character-
`ized by:
`a passenger-protecting member for protecting a pas-
`senger so arranged as to be movable between a first
`position and a second position, a first position being
`located along a front face of the back window panel, in
`which the passenger is protected when the passenger is
`moved upwards while the passenger is seated on the
`rear seat, and a second position being accommodated
`within a. vehicle-body structuring member and located
`remote from the front face of the back window panel, in
`which the passenger-protecting member is accommo-
`dated;
`third driving means interposed between the first posi-
`tion and the second position so as to move the passen-
`ger-protecting member;
`detecting means for detecting the possibility of mov-
`ing the rear passenger seated on the rear seat upwards
`from the rear seat in such a state that the rear passenger
`is seated thereon; and
`third control means for controlling operation of the
`third driving means so as to move the passenger-
`protecting member located in the second position to the
`first position when it is determined in response to a
`signal from the detecting means that there is the possi-
`bility of moving the rear passenger upwards from the
`rear seat in a state in which the rear passenger is seated
`thereon.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`This third aspect of the present invention can allow
`the passenger-protecting member to appear on the inner
`side of the back window panel and as a consequence to
`prevent the head of the rear passenger seated on the
`rear seat from approaching to the back window panel,
`for example, in the event that the automotive vehicle is
`about to roll.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIGS. 1 to 3 are directed to the first embodiment of
`the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic
`diagram showing an overall construction of the appara-
`tus according to the embodiment of the present inven-
`tion; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure
`of a frame of the rear seat; and FIG. 3 is a sectional view
`taken along line III—III of FIG. 2.
`FIGS. 4 to 10 are directed to the second embodiment
`of the present invention, in which FIG. 4 is a schematic
`diagram showing the automotive vehicle when looked
`from the side; FIG. 5 is a longitudinally sectional view
`of a rear header portion of the automotive vehicle; FIG.
`6 is a perspective view of the rear seat; FIG. 7 is a front
`view of a driving apparatus for driving the seat back of
`the rear seat; FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line
`VIII—VIII of FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a block diagram de-
`scribing a control system of the driving apparatus for
`driving the seat back of the rear seat; and FIG. 10 is a
`flow chart for describing the operation of the driving
`apparatus for driving the seat back of the rear seat.
`FIGS. 11 and 12 are directed to the third embodiment
`of the present invention, in which FIG. 11 is a sche-
`matic diagram showing an outline of the rear seat por-
`tion of the vehicle body when looked at its side; and
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`5,203,600
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`4
`FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram describing the action of
`the sensors disposed in the control system.
`FIGS. 13 to 15 are directed to the fourth embodiment
`of the present invention, in which FIG. 13 is a perspec-
`tive view showing the rear seat when looked at its side;
`FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line X4—X4;
`and FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line
`X5—X5.
`FIG. 16 is directed to the fifth embodiment of the
`present invention, in which it is a schematic diagram
`showing the rear seat when looked at its side.
`FIGS. 17 to 19 are directed to the sixth embodiment
`of the present invention, in which FIG. 17 is a partially
`perspective View showing the rear seat when looked
`from the obliquely forward position; FIG. 18 is a per-
`spective view showing the rear seat when looked at its
`side; and FIG. 19 is a rear view showing the rear seat
`when looked from its rearward position.
`FIG. 20 is directed to the seventh embodiment of the
`present invention, in which it is a side view showing the
`side of the rear seat.
`
`FIGS. 21 and 22 are directed to the eighth embodi-
`ment of the present invention, in which FIG. 21 is a
`perspective view showing the rear seat when looked at
`its side; and FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing an
`overall construction of a mechanism raising the rear
`seat.
`
`FIGS. 23 and 24 are directed to the ninth embodi-
`ment of the present invention, in which FIG. 23 is a
`perspective view showing the rear seat when looked at
`its side; and FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing a
`construction of a mechanism raising the rear seat.
`FIGS. 25 to 30 are directed to the tenth embodiment
`of the present invention, in which F16. 25 is a sectional
`view showing an outline of the rear portion of the vehi-
`cle body; FIG. 26 is a view showing the vehicle body
`when looked at its rear; FIG. 27 is a front view showing
`a bar disposed at an upper end of a net; FIG. 28 is a
`sectional view taken along line XX8—XX8 of FIG. 25;
`FIG. 29 is a sectional view taken along line XX9—XX9
`of FIG. 25; and FIG. 30 is a sectional view showing the
`site as indicated by arrow XXX in FIG. 25.
`.
`FIGS. 31 and 32 are directed to the eleventh embodi-
`ment of the present invention, in which FIG. 31 is a
`schematic view when looked at its rear; and FIG. 32 is
`a sectional view taken along line XXX2—XXX2 of
`FIG. 31.
`
`FIGS. 33 to 35 are directed to the twelfth embodi-
`ment of the present invention, in which FIG. 33 is a
`schematic diagram when looked at its oblique rear;
`FIG. 34 is a sectional view taken along line
`XXX4—XXX4 of FIG. 33; and FIG. 35 is a perspective
`view showing a board.
`FIGS. 36 and 38 are directed to the thirteenth em-
`bodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 36 is
`a sectional view showing the rear portion of the vehicle
`body; FIG. 37 is a perspective view showing a rear tray;
`and FIG. 38 is a sectional view taken along line
`XXX8—XXX8 of FIG. 37.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`The present invention will be described more in detail
`by way of examples with reference to the accompany-
`ing drawings.
`
`'
`
`26
`
`26
`
`

`

`5
`
`5,203,600
`
`First Embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 3)
`Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a
`rear header serving as a member for reinforcing a vehi-
`cle body of the automotive vehicle and the rear header
`1 extends in a transverse direction of the automotive
`vehicle at a rear end of a roof 2. A vehicle compartment
`3 covered with the roof 2 is provided at its rear portion
`with a rear seat 4. The rear header 1 is located in the
`position above the rear seat 4 and secured to the upper
`end of a back window panel 5. Between the lower end
`of the back window panel 5 and the rear seat 4 is dis-
`posed a rear tray 6.
`The rear seat 4 comprises a seat cushion 7, a seat back
`8 and a head rest 8a. The seat back 8 is so hinged at its
`lower end to a rear end of the seat cushion 7 as to be
`pivotable about a shaft 9. The seat cushion 7 is disposed
`to be movable forwards and rearwards, i.e. in the longi-
`tudinal direction of the automotive vehicle, by an elec-
`tric motor 12 as a source for driving the seat cushion 7
`along and on a rail 11 disposed on a floor 10 and extend-
`ing in the longitudinal direction thereof.
`FIG. 2 shows a structure of a frame of the rear seat 4,
`in which reference numeral 15 denotes a frame for the
`seat cushion 7, and the electric motor 12 is mounted on
`the frame 15. An output shaft 12a of the electric motor
`12 is associated with a threaded bar 17 through a gear
`mechanism 16, and the threaded bar 17 extends in a
`longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. By rotating
`the electric motor 12 in a normal direction or in a re-
`verse direction, the threaded bar 17 is pivoted about its
`axis, thereby moving the frame 15 in a forward direc-
`tion or in a rearward direction. It is noted herein that
`the aforesaid structure is per se known, so that the de-
`tails thereof will be omitted from the description which
`follows.
`Referring to FIG. 2, reference numeral 18 denotes a
`frame for the seat back 8, and the frame 18 is connected
`with a hinge 19 to the frame for the seat cushion 7. The
`frame 18 is provided at its upper portion with a roller 20
`which in turn is so accommodated in a slidable bracket
`21 secured to the vehicle body as to be movable up-
`wards and downwards.
`
`As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, reference symbol CU
`denotes a control unit comprised of, for example, a
`microcomputer. To the control unit CU is supplied
`signals from a sensor 22 and a switch 23. The sensor 22
`is to sense an angle of inclination of the vehicle body
`towards its left or right direction. The switch 23 is a
`manual switch so arranged as to move the seat cushion
`7 in the forward direction by rotating the electric motor
`12 in one direction (when one end of the switch 23 is
`kept on pressing. The rotation of the electric motor 12
`is suspended as the seat cushion 7 has reached its for-
`ward stroke end position (the position indicated by the
`phantom line F in FIG. 1). On the other hand, as the
`pressing of the switch 23 has been stopped, the electric
`motor 12 suspends immediately thereafter and the seat
`cushion 7 is retained in its current position. As the seat
`cushion 7 moves forwards, the seat .back 8 reclines
`about the roller 20. As the seat cushion 7 moves for-
`wards in longer distance, the angle 0 at which the seat
`bad: 8 reclines gets larger.
`On the other hand, as the other end of the switch 23
`is kept on pressing, the electric motor 12 is allowed to
`rotate in the reverse direction, thereby moving the seat
`cushion 7 in the rearward direction of the vehicle body.
`As the seat cushion 7 reached its rearward stroke end
`
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`position (the position as indicated by the solid line R in
`FIG. 1), the electric motor 12 is suspended. As the
`pressing of the switch 23 has been ceased; the electric
`motor 12 stops immediately thereafter and the rearward
`movement of the seat cushion 7 stops, too, thereby
`retaining the seat cushion 7 in its current position. As
`the seat cushion 7 moves rearwards, the seat back 8 is
`allowed to keep on standing erect about the roller 20.
`As the seat cushion 7 moves rearwards in longer dis-
`tance, the angle 0 at which the seat back 8 gets erect
`becomes smaller.
`
`When the vehicle body leans at 45' or larger in the
`left or right direction, then the sensor 22 generates a
`signal to the control unit CU to that effect and the
`control unit CU generates a start-up signal to the elec-
`tric motor 12, thereby forcibly transferring the seat
`cushion 7 up to its rearward stroke end position R and
`allowing the seat back 8 to stand erect. This erect move-
`ment of the seat back 8 makes the passenger seated on
`the rear seat 4 ready to assume a posture in which the
`passenger sits in a stable way. A conventional reclining
`mechanism which is currently loaded on an automotive
`vehicle can be employed for this system for protecting
`the passenger seated on the rear seat 4, so that the sys-
`tem according to the present invention can be con-
`structed at reasonable costs.
`FIG. 4 and the figures which follow thereafter show
`other embodiments of the system according to the pres-
`ent invention. It is noted herein that the identical ele-.
`ments of those embodiments are provided with the same
`reference numerals and symbols, so that duplicate de-
`scription of those elements will be omitted from the
`following description.
`
`Second Embodiment (FIGS. 4 to 10)
`As specifically shown in FIG. 5, the rear header 1 is
`in a closed sectional shape and comprises an inner mem-
`ber 1a (a rear header inner) made of a pressed steel plate
`and an outer member 1b (a rear header outer) composed
`of a rear end portion of the roof 2. An upper end portion
`of the back window panel 5 is connected with an adhe-
`sive to and supported by a flange section It: on which
`the inner member 1a is connected to the outer member
`1b on their respective rear sides. On the under surface of
`the roof 2 is stuck a felt material 30 up to the position
`immediately in front of the rear header 1, and a ceiling
`member 31 is disposed underneath the roof 2 and the
`rear header 1. The' ceiling member 31 and a terminal
`portion of the rear header 1 on its rear side is covered
`with a trim 32.
`.
`
`Although not specifically shown in the drawings, the
`inner member la of the rear header 1 is provided with a
`number of holes or a plurality of bead sections, thereby
`lessening impact of the head or other portions of the
`passenger M seated on the rear seat 4 upon the rear
`header 1 when the passenger M is caused to move up
`wards and come into engagement with the rear header
`1
`
`As shown in FIG. 6, each of left-hand and right-hand
`seat sections of the rear seat 4 comprises the seat cush-
`ion 7, the seat back 8 and the head rest 8a. The seat back
`8 is divided into two sections, i.e. an upper seat back 35
`and a lower seat back 36. On the side face of the seat
`back 8 is disposed a drive mechanism 37 which in turn
`drives the upper seat back 35 so as to lean forwards
`about its lower end portion.
`Description will be made of the details of the drive
`mechanism 37.
`
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`5,203,600
`
`7
`As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the drive mechanism 37
`essentially comprises a base plate 40 disposed along the
`side surface of the seat back 8, an electric motor 41 fixed
`to the base plate 40 as a source for driving the seat back
`8, and a group of gears for transmitting driving force of
`the electric motor 41 to a shaft 43 supported by the base
`plate 40 through a bearing 42. The shaft 43 is so dis-
`posed in the inside of the upper seat back 35 so to extend
`in the transverse direction of the vehicle body and it is
`integral with the upper seat back 35.
`The group of the gears comprises a motor gear 44
`fixed to the output shaft 41a of the electric motor 41, an
`input gear 45 engageable with the motor gear 44, an
`output gear 46 secured integrally with an outer end
`portion of the shaft 43, and first and second intermediate
`gears 47 and 48 so interposed between the input gear 45
`and the output gear 46 as to be engageable with the
`input gear 45 and the output gear 46. To the outside of
`the output gear 46 is fixed a cam plate 49 which in turn
`is provided with a first cam groove 49a and a second
`cam groove 49b on its outer peripheral portion. Above
`the cam plate 49 is disposed an engageable paw 51 so
`supported rotatably by a support shaft 505 as to be en-
`gageable with the cam grooves 49a and 49b.
`To the first intermediate gear 47 and the second inter-
`mediate gear 48 is connected a feed plate 52 mounted on
`the outside of the cam plate 49 so as to be pivotable
`about a central axis of the shaft 43. The feed plate 52 is
`biased, for example, by a spring (not shown) in the
`counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 7, so that
`the first intermediate gear 47 is engaged with both of
`the input gear 45 and the output gear 46 under ordinary
`circumstances, as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 7.
`To the feed plate 52 is mounted an actuator 53 which in
`turn is so operated as to pivot the feed plate 52 in the
`clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 7, thereby allow-
`ing the second intermediate gear 48 to be engaged with
`both of the input gear 45 and the output gear 46 as
`shown by the dot-bar line in FIG. 7, in place of the
`engagement of the first intermediate gear 47 therewith.
`The first intermediate gear 47 comprises an upper
`gear section 47a engageable with the input gear 45,
`which has a diameter larger than the second intermedi-
`ate gear 48, and a lower gear section 47b engageable
`with the output gear 46, which is identical in diameter
`to the second intermediate gear 48. Thus, the upper gear
`section 47a has a number of teeth greater than the teeth
`of the second intermediate gear 48 while the lower gear
`section 47b has the same number of teeth as the second
`intermediate gear 48. Hence, the output gear 46 is
`driven at a lower speed when the first intermediate gear
`47 is engaged with both of the input gear 45 and the
`output gear 46 as shown by the solid line in FIG. 7 than
`when the second intermediate gear 48 is engaged with
`both of the input gear 45 and the output gear 46 as
`shown by the dot-bar line in FIG. 7.
`When the electric motor 41 is driven under the cir-
`cumstances as described immediately hereinabove, the
`input gear 45 is rotated by the motor gear 44, thereby
`rotating the output gear 46 through the first intermedi-
`ate gear 47 or the second intermediate gear 48. As the
`output gear 46 rotates, the shaft 43 rotates integrally
`with the output gear 46, thereby changing an angle of
`inclination of the upper seat back 35.
`In this instance, the direction in which the electric
`motor 41 rotates is set so as to agree with the direction
`in which the upper seat back 35 is leaned. In other
`words, the output gear 46 pivots toward the forward
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`side of the vehicle body in the counterclockwise direc-
`tion as shown by the solid line in FIG. 7 when the upper
`seat back 35 is leaned toward the forward side of the
`vehicle body from an ordinary posture in which the
`surface of the upper seat back 35 agrees with the surface
`of the lower seat back 36 in a straight line.
`At this time, the cam plate 49 is rotated integrally
`with the output gear 46, too, and the engageable paw 51
`is allowed to be engaged with the second cam groove
`49b, thereby driving the upper seat back 35 up to the
`time when the rotation of the cam plate 49 is suspended,
`i.e. when the rotation of the output gear 46 and the shaft
`43 is suspended. When the upper seat back 35 assumes
`such an ordinary posture as described hereinabove, the
`engageable paw 51 is engaged with the first cam groove
`42a. On the other hand, when the upper seat back 35 is
`leaned forwards, it is caused to be engaged with the
`second cam groove 49b and the upper seat back 35 is
`leaned forwards at the angle of inclination defined by a
`central angle formed by the first and second cam
`grooves 41a and 42b.
`The electric motor 41 and the actuator 53 are electri-
`cally connected to the control unit CU (as shown in
`FIG. 4) and driven in accordance with a control signal
`from the control unit CU.
`
`To the control unit CU are supplied signals from a
`manual switch 55 and a sensor 56. The manual switch 55
`is disposed on a side surface of the seat cushion 7 and
`operated manually by the passenger M. The sensor 56 is
`a wheel stroke sensor composed of, for example, a po-
`tentiometer, which in turn is mounted to a suspension
`unit at each of wheels, and it is to sense a rebounding
`state in which the wheel 57 rebounds.
`
`FIG. 9 shows an overall layout of control. Briefly,
`the control unit CU is operated to control the electric
`motor 41 and a speed at which the drive mechanism 37
`for driving the upper seat back 35 in response to the
`signals from the wheel stroke sensors 56.
`When the passenger M operates the manual switch 55
`to operate the drive mechanism 37 for driving the upper '
`seat back 35, the actuator 53 is brought into a state in
`which it is not operated. This arrangement selects the
`first intermediate gear 47 as an intermediate gear be-
`tween the input gear 45 and the output gear 46 and
`allows the drive mechanism 37 to be driven at a rela-
`tively low speed.
`Given the foregoing, the contents of control for the
`upper seat back 35 will be described with reference to
`the flow chart as shown in FIG. 10.
`
`After the system has been started, output signals from
`each of the wheel stroke sensors 56 are read at step 81,
`followed by proceeding to step 82 at which a decision15
`made to determine on the basis of the signals from each
`wheel stroke sensor 56 if the automotive vehicle is cur-
`rently rebounding.
`Determination15 made that the automotive vehicle1s
`full rebounding when either one of the following condi-
`tions is met:
`
`I. when both of the left-hand and right-hand front
`wheels are full rebounding;
`2. when both of the left-hand and right-hand rear
`wheels are full rebounding;
`3. when the left-hand front wheel and the left-hand
`rear wheel are full rebounding; and
`4. when the right-hand front wheel and the right-
`hand rear wheel are full rebounding.
`Itis to be noted herein that determination15 made that
`thecorresponding wheels are full rebounding when an
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`10
`
`9
`output value of the wheel stroke sensors 56 exceeds a
`predetermined value. More specifically, when the cor-
`responding wheels come into a state in which they are
`about to rebound to a full extent, it is determined that
`the corresponding wheels are in such a state that they
`are full rebounding