GB2393115A

GB2393115A - Releasable attachment for a racing vehicle seat providing upper body support

Info

Publication number: GB2393115A
Application number: GB0221755A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Mark Tillett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-09-18
Filing date: 2002-09-18
Publication date: 2004-03-24
Also published as: GB0221755D0

Abstract

Apparatus for supporting the body of a person in a racing vehicle seat (10) comprises at least one supporting member (12) which is configured to support the upper part of a body of a person occupying the vehicle seat. The support member (12) may be affixed in a number of different positions via releasable fixings (14) such as a bolt, rivet, Velcro RTM. The support member may be resilient and may be padded to protect the occupant of the seat. The support member may be angularly adjusted via spacers (28, 32).

Description

1 23931 15

5 TITLE: VEHICLE SEATS

10 DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to vehicle seats and more particularly to apparatus for supporting the body of a person in a racing vehicle seat.

15 In motor sports such as kart racing, seats are usually monolithic shells, e.g. of composite fibre reinforced plastics, which have much the same shape. Conventionally, drivers of different heights and sizes are accommodated by fitting one of several differently sized seats to a kart.

20 However, this approach often fails to provide effective support for variously sized and shaped drivers, particularly since, during racing, significant cornering forces are exerted on the driver's body.

The problem of ineffective support has, in the past, 25 been addressed by providing seats with sides that are deeper, and in some instances by providing seats that are shaped to wrap round the driver's chest. However, such seats can be uncomfortable or ineffective as regards

protection, especially in the rib area, since variation in chest depth cannot readily be taken into account. Efforts to address the problem of ineffective support and protection, particularly in the torso area, has seen the 5 development of rib protectors, which typically comprise energy absorbing panels that are strapped by means of a belt around a driver's chest. An example of a rib protector is described in US 6,209,145 (to the present applicant). 10 The present invention has been devised in the light of the shortcomings of known racing seats and in an attempt to mitigate at least some of those shortcomings.

Therefore, according to an aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for supporting the 15 body of a person in a racing vehicle seat, e.g. a seat for motor sport racing, such as kart racing, comprising at least one member which is configured to support a part of a body of a person occupying the vehicle seat, and means for attaching the at least one member to one of several 20 positions on the vehicle seat.

In use, the at least one member can be attached at a position on the vehicle seat that suits a particular driver. For example, the member can be positioned at a particular height from the seat base so that it aligns 25 with the rib cage of a seat occupant of a particular height. A member positioned in this fashion can support and provide protection for the ribs of the occupant.

The apparatus may comprise a pair of members with

( respective means for attachment at substantially corresponding positions on opposing sides of the vehicle seat. Thus, the pair of members can be disposed in a symmetrical fashion on the vehicle seat. For example, a 5 member might be positioned at a particular location on one side of the seat and the other member of the pair positioned at the corresponding position on the other side of the seat to support the opposite sides of the occupant's body.

lo The at least one member may comprise a panel having a surface shaped for optimal contact with a part of the seat occupant's body. For example, the surface might have a concave curve to fit and provide support for a seat occupant's flank or outside upper leg.

15 The at least one member may be configured for attachment towards a periphery of the seat, perhaps towards the edge of a side of the seat. Thus, a portion of a member of particular dimensions can be positioned to project beyond the edge of the seat by an amount 20 appropriate for an occupant with a particular depth of chest. The at least one member may be removably attached to the vehicle seat. Thus, if the size and shape of the seat occupant changes, the member can be removed and relocated 25 at an appropriate position on the vehicle seat.

The means for attaching the at least one member may comprise one or more of a fastener, such as a bolt or a QTH rivet, velcro' and adhesive.

( In addition, the at least one member may be configured for attachment to the vehicle seat. The member may be configured by being shaped to fit the vehicle seat. Thus, where the means of attachment comprises adhesive or Qua 5 velcro^, secure attachment of the member can be provided for. Alternatively or in addition, where the means of attachment comprises a fastener the member may be configured by having one or more apertures for receiving the fastener.

10 The member may comprise material which is of sufficient stiffness to support the body of a vehicle seat occupant during cornering but is sufficiently yielding to bend when the occupant is getting into and out of the seat.

The member may be a unitary member and may comprise 15 substantially the same material as the vehicle seat, e.g. a plastics material such as a composite fibre reinforced plastics. The member may comprise a stiff base, which is configured for attachment to the vehicle seat. The stiff 20 base may be of a thickness in the range of about 1 mm to 7 mm. The stiff base can provide for support of a part of a vehicle seat occupant's body.

In addition, the stiff base may have a rounded edge, which can reduce the likelihood of injury to an occupant.

25 The member may comprise resilient material, e.g. foam padding. The resilient material may be on the stiff base.

The resilient material may be of a thickness in the range of about 1 mm to 10 mm. The resilient material may have a

density of about 90 kgm3. The resilient material can absorb energy arising from the forces exerted during cornering of a vehicle, thereby providing protection for the vehicle seat occupant. In a member comprising a stiff 5 base, the resilient material may project beyond the stiff base by between about 1 mm and 20 mm. Thus, the stiff base can be prevented from cutting into the body of the seat occupant. In addition, where the means of attachment is a 10 fastener, the fastener may be embedded in the resilient material. Thus, the fastener can be less liable to injure the seat occupant.

The member may comprise a low friction covering of Q-d textiles material, such as Lycra<, to provide for ease of 15 movement of the occupant whilst in the seat and whilst getting in and out of the seat.

The apparatus may further comprise means for setting the disposition of the at least one member on a vehicle seat in relation to part of a body of a person occupying 20 the vehicle seat. The setting means can be used to set the position of the member in relation to part of a person's body, e.g. his chest, to provide for proper matching with that part of his body.

The means for setting the disposition may comprise a 25 component which can be positioned between the member and the vehicle seat.

The means for setting the disposition may be for use in combination with the means for attaching the at least

t one member.

The means for setting the disposition may comprise two or more components.

The means for setting the disposition may be used to 5 space the at least one member from the vehicle seat. In addition or alternatively, the means for setting the disposition may be used to set an orientation of the at least one member in relation to the vehicle seat.

According to another aspect of the present invention 10 there is provided a racing vehicle seat comprising at least one separate member, which can be attached at one of several positions on the vehicle seat and is configured to support a part of a body of a person occupying the seat.

It is to be appreciated that the apparatus according 15 to this aspect of the invention may include any one or more of the features described above with reference to the preceding aspect of the invention.

Figure l is a view from one side of a racing vehicle seat, which comprises the apparatus of the present 20 invention; Figure 2 shows the racing seat of Figure 1 from above; Figure 3 is a sectional view through the apparatus of the present invention; and 25Figure 4 is an end view of an apparatus of the present invention showing two spacers in position.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to

( the accompanying drawings in which: With reference to Figures l and 2, the racing vehicle seat 10 in the form of a monolithic shell of moulded plastics comprises a pair of panels 12 (constituting at l 5 least one member), which are attached at corresponding positions on opposing sides of the seat towards its forward edge. The panels 12 are of a size that a portion of each panel extends beyond the forward edge of the seat.

Figure 3 shows a sectional view through one of the 10 panels 12. The panel 12 is shown attached to a seat 10 by means of a bolt 14 (which constitutes means for attaching the at least one member). The panel 12 comprises a stiff base 16, a layer of resilient material 18 and a low I friction covering of Lycra' 20. The layer of resilient 15 material 18 is provided on and attached to the base 16, e.g. by gluing. The low friction covering 20 covers the layer of resilient material 18. The low friction covering can be glued to the layer of resilient material or held in place by means of elastic provided around the periphery of 20 the covering. The bolt 14 is embedded in the resilient material 18 to reduce the likelihood of injury to the seat occupant. The panel has a surface 22 which is curved to fit the flank of the seat occupant, thereby providing for optimal 25 contact with and support of the occupant's flank. The opposing surface 24 of the panel is slightly curved (which constitutes being configured for attachment to the vehicle seat) so that it fits the inside of the vehicle seat.

( The stiff base 16 comprises a composite fibre reinforced plastic, which is of sufficient stiffness to support the body of a seat occupant but sufficiently yielding to bend when the occupant is getting into and out 5 of the seat. An appropriate thickness for the stiff base 16 is in the range of about 1 mm to 7 mm. The stiff base has rounded edges to reduce the likelihood of injury to an occupant. The resilient material 18 is provided as a layer on 10 the stiff base 16 and is of foam padding with a density of about 90 kgm3. The resilient material provides protection for the seat occupant by absorbing energy arising, for example, from the forces exerted during cornering. The I resilient material is of a thickness in the range of 1 mm 15 to 10 mm. The resilient material projects at its leading edge 26 beyond the stiff base 16 by between about 1 mm and 20 mm. The projection of resilient material beyond the stiff base can prevent the base from cutting into the body of the seat occupant.

20 The low friction covering of Lycra'< 20 can provide for ease of movement of the occupant whilst in the seat and whilst getting in and out of the seat.

Figure 4 is an end view of one of the panels 12, in which a spacer 28, 32 (constituting means for setting the 25 disposition of the at least one member) is located on each of the bolts 14 between the panel 12 and the seat 10. The spacers 28, 32 can be used to set the position of the panel 12 in relation to part of the seat occupant's body, e.g.

( his chest, to provide for proper matching with that part of his body. The effect of the spacers 28, 32 is not only to space the panel from the vehicle seat but also, as a result of the different size of the spacers, to set the 5 orientation of the panel. The spacers can be advantageous when unusually shaped seat occupants are being accommodated, e.g. an occupant that is wide across the hips but narrow across the chest.

The pair of panels 12 can be attached at one of 10 several positions on the seat 10. For example, the panels can be attached as shown in Figures 1 and 2 to provide support and protection for the ribs of an occupant. If the chest size of the occupant increases, the panels can be repositioned by removing the bolts 14, making new holes 15 nearer the leading edge of seat and re-attaching the panels by means of the bolts. Thus, the increase in chest depth can be accommodated by increasing the amount by which the panels extend beyond the leading edge of the seat. 20 Protection for another part of an occupant's body can be provided by attaching the panels at a different position on the seat. For example, the panels might be attached at an edge of the seat towards the base so that the panels project upwards and provide support and 25 protection for the occupant's upper legs. A panel for supporting the upper leg might have a surface which is shaped to fit the upper leg, i.e. it may have a shape which is different to that of the panels shown in Figures

( 1 and 2.

It is to be appreciated that the apparatus for supporting the body of a person in a racing vehicle seat and other features described with reference to the 5 embodiment discussed above can be combined in other embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

l CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus for supporting the body of a person in a racing vehicle seat, comprising at least one member which 5 is configured to support a part of a body of a person occupying the vehicle seat, and means for attaching the at least one member to one of several positions on the vehicle seat.

10 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a pair of members with respective means for attachment at substantially corresponding positions on opposing sides of the vehicle seat.

15 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the at least one member comprises a panel having a surface shaped for optimal contact with a part of the seat occupant's body.

20 4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the at least one member is configured for attachment towards a periphery of the seat, perhaps towards an edge of a side of the seat.

25 5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the at least one member is removably attached to the vehicle seat.

l 6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the means for attaching the at least one member comprises one or more of a fastener, such as a bolt or a rivet, velcro' and adhesive.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the at least one member is configured for attachment to the vehicle seat. 10 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the member is configured by being shaped to fit the vehicle seat.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, in which the member is configured by having one or more apertures 15 for receiving a fastener.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the member comprises material which is of sufficient stiffness to support the body of a vehicle seat occupant 20 during cornering but is sufficiently yielding to bend when the occupant is getting into and out of the seat.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the member is a unitary member and comprises substantially 25 the same material as the vehicle seat.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the member comprises a stiff base, which is configured for

( attachment to the vehicle seat.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which the stiff base is of a thickness in the range of about 1 mm to 7 mm.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, in which the stiff base has a rounded edge.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which 10 the member comprises resilient material.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, in which the resilient material is on a stiff base.

15 17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16, in which the resilient material is of a thickness in the range of about 1 mm to 10 mm.

18. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17, in 20 which the resilient material has a density of about 90 kgm.

19. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 18, in which, in a member comprising a stiff base, the resilient 25 material projects beyond the stiff base by between about 1 mm and 20 mm.

20. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 19, in

which in the means of attachment is a fastener and the fastener is embedded in the resilient material.

21. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which 5 the member comprises a low friction covering of textiles material to provide for ease of movement of the occupant whilst in the seat and whilst getting in and out of the seat. JO 22. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising means for setting the disposition of the at least one member on a vehicle seat in relation to part of a body of a person occupying the vehicle seat.

15 23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, in which the means for setting the disposition comprises a component which can be positioned between the member and the vehicle seat.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22 or claim 23, in which 20 the means for setting the disposition is for use in combination with the means for attaching the at least one member. 25. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 24, in 25 which the means for setting the disposition comprises two or more components.

26. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 25, in

( which the means for setting the disposition is used to space the at least one member from the vehicle seat.

27. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 26, in 5 which the means for setting the disposition is used to set an orientation of the at least one member in relation to the vehicle seat.

28. A racing vehicle seat comprising at least one separate TO member, which can be attached at one of several positions on the vehicle seat and is configured to support a part of a body of a person occupying the seat.

29. Apparatus for supporting the body of a person in a 15 racing vehicle seat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 30. A racing vehicle seat substantially as hereinbefore 20 described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.