US-12623575-B2 - Head impact energy absorption component with integrated seat trim support

US12623575B2US 12623575 B2US12623575 B2US 12623575B2US-12623575-B2

Abstract

A seat for a vehicle includes a frame. The frame includes a headrest portion. The seat for a vehicle also includes an energy absorption spacer coupled to the frame; a seat garnish positioned over the energy absorption spacer and the frame; and a seat trim cover. The seat trim cover has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the seat trim cover is coupled to the headrest portion, and the second portion of the seat trim cover extends between the energy absorption spacer and the seat garnish.

Inventors

Brian J. Hewitt
Arpit D. Bhatt
Andrew G. Schulte
Mark E. Neumann
Kyle E. Rosander
Charles Patterson
Alexander W. Schuyler
Jennifer Lyn Pelky

Assignees

TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20231013

Claims (17)

1 . A seat for a vehicle, comprising: a front side; and an opposing rear side, wherein the rear side comprises: at least a portion of a headrest, wherein the headrest forms part of a frame; a seat trim cover having a first portion coupled to the portion of the headrest; and an energy absorption spacer; wherein the energy absorption spacer comprises a trim guide; and wherein at least a second portion of the seat trim cover follows the trim guide of the energy absorption spacer such that the second portion of the seat trim cover is in contact with the energy absorption spacer.
2 . The seat of claim 1 , further comprising: a seat garnish positioned over at least the second portion of the seat trim cover and the energy absorption spacer such that the second portion of the seat trim cover is positioned between the seat garnish and the energy absorption spacer.
3 . The seat of claim 2 , wherein the second portion of the seat trim cover is positioned directly between the seat garnish and the energy absorption spacer along the trim guide.
4 . The seat of claim 2 , wherein the seat garnish is coupled to the rear side using an adhesive.
5 . The seat of claim 1 , wherein the energy absorption spacer is coupled to the rear side using one or more bolts.
6 . The seat of claim 5 , wherein the energy absorption spacer comprises a plurality of protrusions extending away from the trim guide; and wherein the plurality of protrusions of the energy absorption spacer is configured to absorb energy from a head of a user during a collision.
7 . The seat of claim 1 , further comprising: a seat garnish coupled to the rear side, wherein the second portion of the seat trim cover is positioned radially inward from the seat garnish.
8 . The seat of claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the trim guide of the energy absorption spacer is positioned radially inward from the second portion of the seat trim cover.
9 . The seat of claim 7 , wherein the energy absorption spacer further comprises a plurality of protrusions; and wherein the plurality of protrusions are positioned radially inward from the seat garnish and the second portion of the seat trim cover.
10 . A seat for a vehicle, comprising: a frame, the frame comprising a headrest portion; an energy absorption spacer coupled to the frame; a seat garnish positioned over the energy absorption spacer and the frame; and a seat trim cover, wherein the seat trim cover has a first portion and a second portion; wherein the first portion of the seat trim cover is coupled to the headrest portion; and wherein the second portion of the seat trim cover extends between the energy absorption spacer and the seat garnish.
11 . The seat of claim 10 , wherein the second portion of the seat trim cover extends from the headrest portion and around a portion of the energy absorption spacer.
12 . The seat of claim 11 , wherein the frame further comprises a first extended portion and a second extended portion; and wherein the headrest portion is positioned in between the first extended portion and the second extended portion.
13 . The seat of claim 12 , wherein the energy absorption spacer is positioned between the first extended portion and the second extended portion; and wherein the energy absorption spacer is equidistant from the first extended portion and the second extended portion.
14 . The seat of claim 12 , wherein the energy absorption spacer is positioned beneath the headrest portion.
15 . The seat of claim 10 , wherein the second portion of the seat trim cover includes an end of the seat trim cover.
16 . The seat of claim 15 , wherein the end of the seat trim cover is coupled to the frame.
17 . The seat of claim 16 , wherein the end of the seat trim cover is coupled to the frame via adhesive.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to an energy absorption component and, more particularly, to a head impact energy absorption spacer component for a seat in a vehicle with integrated seat trim support. BACKGROUND Passenger safety is a key consideration in the manufacturing of vehicles. Seats are required to meet deceleration criteria to support regulatory compliance for head impact. For example, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 201 applies to requirements for the use of energy-absorbing materials in interior components of a vehicle. When a vehicle is in a head-on collision, passengers in the vehicle are propelled forward. As the passengers move forward, their heads may hit the seat in front of them. In such instances, seat belts or other conventional approaches may be insufficient to prevent (or reduce) injuries to the passengers. SUMMARY A first illustrative embodiment provides a seat for a vehicle having a front side and an opposing rear side. The rear side includes at least a portion of a headrest, a seat trim cover coupled to the portion of the headrest and an energy absorption spacer. The energy absorption spacer includes a trim guide and at least a portion of the seat trim cover follows the trim guide of the energy absorption spacer such that the portion of the seat trim cover is in contact with the energy absorption spacer. A second illustrative embodiment provides a seat for a vehicle including a frame having a headrest portion, an energy absorption spacer coupled to the frame, a seat garnish positioned over the energy absorption spacer and the frame and a seat trim cover. The seat trim cover has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the seat trim cover is coupled to the headrest portion. Further, the second portion of the seat trim cover extends between the energy absorption spacer and the seat garnish. A third illustrative embodiment provides an energy absorption spacer feature that includes a first side and an opposing second side, and a plurality of through-holes extending from the first side to the second side. The first side includes a trim guide configured to support a seat trim cover such that the seat trim cover maintains its shape. Further, the second side includes a plurality of protrusions. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory in nature and are intended to provide an understanding of the present disclosure without limiting the scope of the present disclosure. In that regard, additional aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals, letters, or both in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIG. 2 is another cross-sectional view of the vehicle in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIG. 3 is yet another cross-sectional view of the vehicle in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIG. 4 is a rear view of a front row seat of a vehicle in accordance with one or more embodiments FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the front row seat of FIG. 4 in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIG. 5B is another cross-sectional side view of a portion of the front row seat of FIG. 4 in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a portion of the front row seat of FIG. 4 in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIG. 7 is an expanded view of a portion of FIG. 6 in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIG. 8 is an illustration of a front view of an energy absorption spacer in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIG. 9 is an illustration of a right-side view of the energy absorption spacer of FIG. 8 in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIG. 10 is an illustration of a front-isometric view of the energy absorption spacer of FIG. 8 in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIG. 11 is an illustration of a bottom view of the energy absorption spacer of FIG. 8 in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIG. 12 is a flow-chart of a method of manufacturing the vehicle seat with an energy absorption spacer with an integrated seat trim cover support in accordance with one or mor