SHOCK-ABSORBING MOUNT FOR VEHICLE SEAT

Abstract

A generally vertical pillar extends between a floor and a ceiling of a vehicle chassis and carries a seat. A damper is secured between an attachment point on the pillar and an attachment point vertically offset therefrom on the vehicle chassis. This damper comprises a plurality of C-shaped springs each attached at one of the attachment points to the pillar and extending therefrom at an angle of 45° relative to the pillar and an opposite end attached at the other attachment point to the chassis and extending therefrom at an angle of 45° relative to the pillar. The springs each are elastically deformable and form force absorbers that return to a starting shape after elastic deformation. Each C-shaped spring defines a gap open at an acute angle to the vertical and that varies in dimension on deformation of the respective spring.

Claims

1. In combination with a vehicle chassis, a substantially vertical pillar; a seat carried on the pillar; and a damper secured between an attachment point on the pillar and an attachment point vertically offset therefrom and on the vehicle chassis, the damper comprising a plurality of C-shaped springs each attached at one of the attachment points to the pillar and extending therefrom at an angle of 45° relative to the pillar and an opposite end attached at the other attachment point to the chassis and extending therefrom at an angle of 45° relative to the pillar, the springs each being elastically deformable and forming force absorbers that return to a starting shape after elastic deformation, each spring C-shaped element defining a gap open at an acute angle to the vertical and that varies in dimension on deformation of the respective spring.

2. The damper according to claim 1, wherein the force absorber is embodied as material of the springs.

3. The damper according to claim 1, wherein the force absorber consists of an elastically deformable material.

4. The damper according to claim 1, wherein the springs are in horizontal rows extending parallel to one another.

5. The damper according to claim 4, wherein the springs are next to one another in the rows.

6. A seat for a land vehicle, wherein the seat comprises at least one damper according to claim 1.

7. The seat according to claim 6, wherein the damper is between the seat and a chassis of the land vehicle.

8. The seat according to claim 6, wherein the seat is vertically adjustable on the pillar.

9. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the damper is formed by two rows of the C-shaped springs, the gaps of the elements of each row forming a horizontally extending slot open at an acute angle to the vertical.

10. The seat according to claim 9, wherein the slot of one of the rows opens at right angle to the slot of the other of the rows.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0028] Further features of the present invention are shown in the figures, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a front view of the seat;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a side view of the seat;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the seat;

[0032] FIG. 4 is a top view of the seat;

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a damping element according to the invention on the pillar; and

[0034] FIGS. 6 and 7 are front and perspective views of the damping elements mounted at the pillar.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrate an embodiment of a damper 1 that secures a seat 10 to a floor and a ceiling of a chassis 11 of an unillustrated vehicle. The seat 10 is for example vertically adjustable on a pillar 12 that can form a constituent part of the damper 1.

[0036] At its lower end the pillar 12 is secured to the chassis floor by a plurality of springs 3 of curved shape 4, for example C-shaped, positioned at least in one row, here in two rows parallel to one another. In this case, the springs 3 together form the damper 1.

[0037] There is no, or no appreciable, deformation of the C-shaped springs 3 during normal loading of the seat 10. These C-shaped springs can deform and thereby absorb the impact energy only in the event of an impact on the vehicle from the outside. When this takes place the C-shaped springs 3 deform and in the process the free ends of the large C are able to move toward one another. In this case, the impact energy is transmitted to the damper 1 through the attachment points 2.

[0038] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the details of the C-shaped springs 3 forming the damping element 1. On the left side, the C-shaped springs 3 are connected to the attachment points 2 in a way that a at least two C-shaped springs 3 are connected to each attachment point 2. Therefore, in FIG. 2, a C-shaped spring 3 is connected to the attachment points 2 so that the open sides of the C-shaped springs 3 are connected to the attachment points 2. This way, two C-shaped elements 2 and the attachment points 2 form a closed ring.

[0039] The attachment points 2 are situated at the lower end of the pillar 12, preferably open at an angle of 45° to the vertical pillar 12 as can be seen in FIG. 2. Also, attachment points 2 are situated at edges of a bottom element that may be used for positioning of the seat and/or the pillar 12 to the chassis floor of the vehicle. These attachment points are also preferably positioned in an angle of 45°.

[0040] The C-shaped springs 3 comprise a force-absorption means. This absorption means can be seen as the material that is used to manufacture the C-shaped springs 3. Also, the absorption means can be seen as a material inside the C-shaped springs 3. This way, the C-shaped springs 3 are elastically deformable.

[0041] On the right side of FIG. 7, the plurality of C-shaped springs 3 that form the damper 1 can be seen. Here, the C-shaped springs 3 are arrayed in rows each extending along and centered on a respective parallel axis, with the axis of the two rows parallel to each other. This, combined with the deformation of the springs 3 at 45° to the vertical improves the damping effectiveness.

[0042] When some force is exerted to the bottom the chassis 11 a grenade, this force is directed in upward parallel to the pillar 12. This force vertically compresses the damper 1 and therefore the C-shaped springs 3. Because of the elastic feature of the C-shaped springs and the deflection of the force into 45° deformation, the force is at least partly absorbed by the damper 1. The seat itself and the person that sits on the seat will produce a force that is directed in the opposite direction than the force exerted to the bottom. This force also compresses the damper 1. Therefore, compression takes place by both forces introduced into the damper 1. The elastic feature of the damper 1 dissipates the force from below will only in part be transmitted to the pillar and/or the seat.

[0043] The present invention is not restricted to the abovementioned features. Rather, further refinements are possible. Therefore, the springs can be arranged not only on the suspension arrangement or on the pillar of the seat, but rather also in the pillar itself. The vertically adjustable seat is specially damped as a result. Therefore, an individual degree of damping can be set by combining dampers in the pillar and the suspension arrangement of the seat.

[0044] The present invention is not restricted to the above-described features. Rather, further refinements are possible. Therefore, the springs can be arranged not only on the suspension arrangement or on the pillar of the seat, but rather also in the pillar itself. The vertically adjustable seat is specially damped as a result. Therefore, an individual degree of damping can be set by combining dampers in the pillar and the suspension arrangement of the seat.