Framework Patents (Class 297/452.18)
  • Patent number: 11904746
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seating frame for a vehicle seat, the frame comprising a back frame component for supporting a back rest, wherein the back frame component includes a plurality of interconnected reinforcing ribs that form a single unit, and wherein the seating frame is a one-piece injection-molded part made of plastic material. The invention also relates to a process of making such a seating frame. Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising such a seating frame, and a vehicle comprising such a vehicle seat or such a seating frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Chuangqi Guo, Geert-Jan Schellekens, Zhongcai Tong, Zhen Yu Xie, Zhi Tian, Tianhua Ding
  • Patent number: 11731766
    Abstract: A device for securing passenger seat frame structures (e.g., seat spreaders, legs) to a lateral crossbeam includes a wedged clamping device insertable into a pocket directly adjacent to a passage allowing the crossbeam to pass through the seat frame structure. The wedged clamping device has an upper face providing a locking taper angle and a lower arcuate face opposite the upper face and in contact with the crossbeam. When inserted into the pocket, the wedged clamping device provides a clamping force securing the seat frame structure to the crossbeam without driving a bolt through, deforming, or otherwise compromising the integrity of the crossbeam. The wedged clamping device accepts a tuning bolt through a lateral face; tightening the tuning bolt can more precisely control the amount of clamping force provided on the crossbeam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil M. Ralph, Ryan J. Suhre, Stephen A. Puglisi, Eric M. McKee
  • Patent number: 11691320
    Abstract: An apparatus for molding a foam pad with a wire assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a mold bowl operably coupled to a mold lid to define a mold cavity therebetween. The mold bowl includes a bottom surface and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from and encircling the bottom surface. A plurality of wire holders extend inwardly from and are spaced around the peripheral wall for vertically positioning the wire assembly within the mold cavity. A holding element, such as an arcuate recess, is disposed along an upper ledge of at least one of the wire holders for horizontally positioning the wire assembly within the mold cavity. The mold cavity receives a foam material for filling the mold cavity and surrounding the wire assembly to form the foam pad with the wire assembly embedded therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc
    Inventors: Christopher John Meurer, Ricky Brown, Bryan Keith Caskey, Russel Eugene Strang
  • Patent number: 11590866
    Abstract: Rigidity is improved at a part where side frame pieces overlap each other in a side frame. In a vehicle seat provided with a seat back frame, a side frame 10 of the seat back frame has a first side frame piece 20 and a second side frame piece 30 partially overlapping each other in a direction of extension of the side frame 10. The side frame 10 has an overlapping part 40 where both the first side frame piece 20 and the second side frame piece 30 overlap each other. At the overlapping part 40, the side frame pieces overlap each other in a state where a plurality of closed regions 41 and 42 closed by being surrounded by both side frame pieces are formed in a cross section of the overlapping part 40 intersecting with the direction of extension of the side frame 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Onuma
  • Patent number: 11440452
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a seat back frame that has a composite body. The composite body includes a first side member and a second side member positioned on opposite sides of the composite body. The first and second side members include a recliner assembly at a lower end of each member. Each recliner assembly includes a first bracket, a second bracket, and a recliner sub-assembly. Each recliner assembly is welded or otherwise coupled to an extension that extends away from the recliner assembly along a respective side of the composite body. The extension may be stamped steel having a first end that is closer to the recliner assembly and a second end that is spaced from the recliner assembly. The first end of the extension has a width that is greater than a width of the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Mozurkewich, Travis Pierce, Bradley Bysouth, Adarsh Gupta, Kevin Wayne Preuss
  • Patent number: 11364824
    Abstract: A seat backrest includes right and left side frame segments, a pressure receiving member disposed between the side frame segments movably in a front-back direction, and a cushion pad covering the front of the side frame segments and pressure receiving member. The pressure receiving member includes a main body part, and extending parts extending laterally from both sides of the main body part. The cushion pad includes a back receiving part covering the front of the main body part, and bank parts disposed on both sides of the back receiving part, protruding forward from both sides, and covering the front of the extending parts and side frame segments. A recess is formed at an area, facing a corresponding extending part of the extending parts, of a rear surface of each bank part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shuichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11337525
    Abstract: A reclining seatback support device which mainly includes at least one seatback support and a seatback body is revealed. The seatback body and an upper end of the seatback support are provided with pivot bracket portions pivotally connected to each other while a lower part of the seatback body and the seatback support are connected by a swing arm. When a user is sitting and lying down on the back, the seatback body is rotated around the pivot axis where the seatback body is pivotally connected to the upper end of the seatback support and then reclined at a certain angle. By elastic segments of the seatback body and the swing arm between the lower part of the seatback body and the seatback support for pulling and limiting the seatback body, the user can lean on the seatback body comfortably and safely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Comfordy Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Ling Wu, Armin Roland Sander, Luca Mazzon
  • Patent number: 11332054
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (10) has a seat cushion (20) and a seat back (30), which are affixed to the body of a vehicle. The seat back (30) has: a first member (50) which is formed in a plate-like shape; and a second member (60) with a hat-shaped cross-section, which is configured so that a flange section (61) is in contact with one surface, in a thickness direction, of the first member (50). A center bead (52) is provided at the center portion of the first member (50). The center bead (52) is configured so that a longitudinal end of the center bead (52) and the second member (60) are overlapped in a plan view viewed in the thickness direction of the first member (50). As a result, the first member (50) of the seat back (30) is prevented from being deformed at the longitudinal end of the center bead (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu Takeda, Mitsuru Tsukada, Keita Myochin, Tatsuya Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 11235719
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises: a pair of opposed frames disposed opposite to and separately from each other; a pair of connecting frames disposed separately from each other in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to an opposing direction of the pair of opposed frames, the connecting frames being configured to connect the pair of opposed frames; a bridging wire disposed to bridge the pair of connecting frames; a reinforcing wire disposed to cross the bridging wire as viewed from an occupant side; and a plate-shaped plastic member configured to cover the bridging wire and the reinforcing wire at least at their crossover such that the bridging wire and the reinforcing wire are arranged to be spaced apart from and thus kept out of contact with each other, the bridging wire and the reinforcing wire being connected with the plate-shaped plastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Onuma
  • Patent number: 11148566
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat pad, an insertion hole that passes through the seat pad, a covering portion that covers an inner wall of the insertion hole, a holding plate that holds a distal end of the covering portion, a buckle for a seat belt, and a support plate. In the vehicle seat, the buckle includes a buckle main body, a coupling portion, and an attachment member. The support plate is displaceable between a first state and a second state, the holding plate includes an insertion window portion, and the support plate includes a passage portion that allows the coupling portion to pass through the passage portion but does not allow the buckle main body to pass through the passage portion in a state where the support plate overlaps with the insertion window portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke Watanabe, Akie Nishiguchi
  • Patent number: 11059404
    Abstract: A reinforcement structure for a seat back frame includes a panel material; and a frame material joined to the panel material. The frame material is formed as a hat-type frame material including a web portion which is formed as a substantial U shape from a cross-sectional view and which forms a closed cross-sectional shape with the panel material, and a flange which is formed as one with the web portion and which is also joined to the panel material. A bead is formed in the panel material in a position opposing to the frame material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignees: TS TECH CO., LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kei Okuma, Naoya Nishimoto, Yuta Sugaya, Hisato Oku, Shingo Baba
  • Patent number: 11046213
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback having a base. A reclining portion is pivotably coupled to the base at first and second attachment points and includes first and second longitudinal members. A panel is disposed between the first and second longitudinal members. A cross member extends between the first and second attachment points. A bracket is coupled to the panel and is disposed between the panel and the cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Clayton Caldwell, Cung K. Chieu, Joseph Michael Kish, George Jacob
  • Patent number: 11034067
    Abstract: The present invention provides a CFT pre-forming insert injection molded seat back frame. The CFT pre-forming insert injection molded seat back frame comprises: a pair of frame parts which are coupled to face each other and have fiber reinforced plastic formed therein; and reinforcement parts which are formed on regions that the pair of frames respectively face, and are coupled to each other in multiple locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: LG HAUSYS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung-Hoon Lee, Yong-Kil Kil, Kwon Taek Kim, Yong-Han Kang
  • Patent number: 11001178
    Abstract: Rigidity is improved at a part where side frame pieces overlap each other in a side frame. In a vehicle seat provided with a seat back frame, a side frame of the seat back frame has a first side frame piece and a second side frame piece partially overlapping each other in a direction of extension of the side frame. The side frame has an overlapping part where both the first side frame piece and the second side frame piece overlap each other. At the overlapping part, the side frame pieces overlap each other in a state where a plurality of closed regions and closed by being surrounded by both side frame pieces are formed in a cross section of the overlapping part intersecting with the direction of extension of the side frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Onuma
  • Patent number: 10974625
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a back frame mounted on a cushion frame via a recliner in a pivotally movable manner. The back frame has a support member connected to the recliner, and a seat back shell supported by the support member. The support member has a side plate portion and a rear plate portion facing a side surface and a rear surface of the seat back shell, respectively, and the side plate portion has a base portion fixed to the recliner, and an extension portion provided to extend more upward than the base portion. The side plate portion is fixed at the extension portion to the side surface of the seat back shell, and the rear plate portion is at least fixed in a region to the rear surface of the seat back shell, the region provided to rise from a lower position of the side plate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirofumi Watanabe, Hiroshi Mizobata, Yasuhiro Kato
  • Patent number: 10940783
    Abstract: This headrest guide 52 for holding a pillar 43 protruding from a headrest 4 is provided with cylindrical section 61 having formed therein a through-hole 63 which extends in a longitudinal direction and into which the pillar 43 is inserted. The cylindrical section 61 has a protrusion 64 provided on the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole 63 and coming in contact with the pillar 43 inserted in the through-hole 63. The protrusion 64 extends in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical section 61, and the length of the protrusion 64 in the top-bottom direction is set to be greater than the length thereof in the left-right or front-rear direction. The configuration makes it possible to suppress the rattling of the headrest because of an increase in the region of contact with the pillar inserted in the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Izumida, Naoki Kubo, Mitsuru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10913379
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a cushion supported by a seat frame and a retention device disposed laterally through the cushion in front of a predetermined H-point so as to be able to restrain a seated occupant. The retention device is selectively deployable from a design position to a deployed position in response to a sudden deceleration of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lukasz Gajda, N. R. Adarsh Gupta, Leo Tognetti
  • Patent number: 10893750
    Abstract: A method for producing a seat core material that has a foamed molded substrate and a frame member embedded in a periphery thereof, which includes, as step (a), heating thermoplastic resin expanded beads in a mold cavity, in which the frame member has been disposed, to fusion-bond the expanded beads to each other and to obtain the foamed molded substrate with the frame member being embedded in the periphery thereof; and, as step (b), simultaneously with step (a) or after step (a), forming a void cavity S, S? in the foamed molded substrate at a position along and adjacent to the frame member. The void cavity S, S? has a size and shape that allows a relative displacement between the frame member and the foamed molded substrate when the foamed molded substrate shrinks after step (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: JSP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsuo Takayama, Motoaki Ueguri, Keiichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10870377
    Abstract: The present invention provides a soft polyurethane foam molded atticle which has a mounting surface (1A) can be obtained by foaming and molding a raw foaming liquid, and has a constitution which a ratio of a diameter of a foaming cell in the horizontal direction X along the mounting surface (1A) to a diameter of the foaming cell in the vertical direction Y orthogonal to the mounting surface (1A) increases toward the mounting surface (1A) in the vertical direction (Y).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Shinohara, Kosuke Yoshitomi
  • Patent number: 10835045
    Abstract: A chair having a first frame portion with a backrest support and a rear leg portion at least part of the backrest support and the leg portion being formed from a single piece. A second frame portion has a seat support and a front leg portion extending in a direction transverse to the seat support, the seat support in a fixed position relative to the backrest support. The backrest support molded thereover in foam, the backrest support being substantially peripherally located around the foam of the backrest and the backrest being provided free from rigid supports extending across a middle portion of the backrest. The seat support molded thereover in foam, the seat support being substantially peripherally located around the foam of the seat and the seat being provided free from rigid supports extending across a middle portion of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Series International, LLC
    Inventor: Alvaro Mauricio Olarte
  • Patent number: 10807507
    Abstract: A seat core material of the present invention is a seat core material for vehicle including: a thermoplastic resin expanded bead article; and a frame member embedded in a peripheral edge portion of the expanded bead article. The expanded bead article has two or more lightening parts in an area from a center portion as seen in a front-back direction to a rear side. A through or non-through slit is provided in a continuous part between the lightening parts or an area in front of the continuous part over a distance of 100 mm or less along a vehicle-width direction of the expanded bead article. The slit is closed at both longitudinal ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: JSP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi Hashimoto, Katsunori Hisamatsu, Atsuo Takayama
  • Patent number: 10717370
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle seat core member that is superior in terms of a dimensional accuracy as well as integrity of a thermoplastic resin expanded beads molded body and a frame member. A vehicle seat core member (100) is formed as an integrally molded article of a thermoplastic resin expanded beads molded body (10) and a frame member (20), the thermoplastic resin expanded beads molded body (10) is formed of thermoplastic resin expanded beads (30) having through holes (32), and a porosity of the thermoplastic resin expanded beads molded body (10) is 10 vol % or more and 40 vol % or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: JSP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsunori Hisamatsu, Atsuo Takayama, Keiichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10717533
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat, preferably multiple-seater, which is deformable at the centre thereof and makes it possible to respond to deformation stresses in the event of an accident, impact or crash. In the case of a three-seater seat, the seat is primarily formed by four legs (10), a central seat portion (12), two end seat portions (11) and three backrests (13). The seat portions are bordered by two side bars (18) and one front bar and one rear bar. The front and rear bars are each formed by a central bar (14) or (16) which is extremely flexible, while the end bars (15, 17) of the end seats (11) are extremely rigid. The invention can also be used in aircraft seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: EXPLISEAT
    Inventors: Benjamin Saada, Vincent Tejedor
  • Patent number: 10647035
    Abstract: Provided are a vehicle seat member in which even when a foamed resin molded body forming the vehicle seat member shrinks after being demolded, influence of the shrinkage behavior on a frame member embedded in the foamed resin molded body can be prevented, and thus a change in the position of a protrusion, which serves as a part to be anchored to a vehicle body, of the frame member can be prevented, whereby the vehicle seat member can be attached to the vehicle body side easily and reliably, and a vehicle seat including such a vehicle seat member. A vehicle seat member includes a foamed resin molded body and a frame member integrally formed therewith, the frame member including a body portion embedded in the foamed resin molded body and protrusions each protruding from the body portion and having a tip end protruding outward from the foamed resin molded body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Sekisui Plastics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yushi Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 10640025
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided that can reduce a runout that occurs in a seat back frame. A seat back frame includes an upper frame part (301), a lower frame part (302), a first side frame part (303), and a second side frame part (301), which are formed as separate components and are joined to each other. The lower frame part (302) is provided in such a manner that a rotational axis (3A) is located on the inner side of the lower frame part (302). The seat back is rotated with respect to the seat cushion about the rotational axis (3A). One end portion in the width direction of the lower panel (305) is joined to the first side frame part (303). The other end portion in the width direction is joined to a second side frame part (304). A lower edge (305B) is joined to the lower frame part (302).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yukihiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10640012
    Abstract: An occupant support includes a seat frame and a module assembly. The module assembly is arranged to cover the seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
    Inventors: Shaun D. Tait, Chad W. Durkee
  • Patent number: 10604043
    Abstract: It is intended to expand a space at a back portion of a lower portion of a seat. A seat frame includes a lower frame configured to couple lower portions of side frames arranged on right and left sides. The lower frame includes a back wall portion provided on a back side, a front wall portion provided in front of the back wall portion, and a coupling portion that couples lower ends of the back wall portion and the front wall portion. The back wall portion includes a pair of side portions forming ends in a seat width direction and each formed along the outer shapes of the side frames, and an inclined portion provided between the side portions and inclined such that a lower end is positioned in front of an upper end. The inclined portion is provided in front of the side portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignees: TS Tech Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Onuma, Hiroshi Baba, Taiji Misono, Toshimitsu Mizukoshi, Masaki Shimazu
  • Patent number: 10532677
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly for a motor vehicle has a lower seat and a seat back extending upwardly from the lower seat, and includes a cushion frame assembly having a lower seat cushion frame and a seat back cushion frame. A lower seat cushion module is mounted to the lower seat cushion frame of the cushion frame assembly, the lower seat cushion module comprising an EPP-based lower seat foam core and a lower seat trim cover fitted about an external surface of at least a portion of the foam core. A seat back cushion module is mounted to the seat back cushion frame of the cushion frame assembly, the seat back cushion module comprising an EPP-based seat back foam core and a seat back trim cover fitted about an external surface of at least a portion of the foam core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Marcos Silva Kondrad, David Frederick Lyons, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Daniel Ferretti
  • Patent number: 10525856
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes: a seat back; and a seat cushion including: a first side frame; a second side frame; a front frame connecting front end portions of the first side frame and the second side frame to each other; and a rear frame connecting rear end portions of the first side frame and the second side frame to each other. The first side frame includes: a frame member including a closed sectional shape part between the front frame and the rear frame; a first reinforcing member being provided between the front frame and the rear frame to pass through an inner side wall and an outer side wall, and being joined with the inner side wall and the outer side wall; and a connection member connecting an end portion of the first reinforcing member with at least one frame of the front frame and the rear frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignees: TACHI-S CO., LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yousuke Hasegawa, Sigeyuki Okamoto, Hiroyuki Yajima, Shogo Wakana, Osamu Kyogoku, Sugiaki Yamazato, Toru Inagaki
  • Patent number: 10442332
    Abstract: A seat backrest is provided, comprising a framework (1) including an upper portion (10), a lower portion (20), a central support portion (40) and two side portions (30) formed integrally by injection molding a thermoplastic material; and an elongated reinforcement (60) embedded in the side portion (30) and the central support portion (40) by overmolding and extending along the side portion (30), the reinforcement (60) being configured to bend along a boundary (35) between the side portion (30) and the central support portion (40). A seat including the backrest is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Hee Won Seo, Martin Baumert, Tsung-Chieh Cheng, Sangcheol Jun, Daewoo Lee, Sunghyun Kang
  • Patent number: 10442331
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a side frame, a cushion panel, and an insertion member. One of the side frame and the cushion panel is provided with an elastically deformed portion including an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface, the outer circumferential surface being configured to be expanded outward by insertion of the insertion member on the inner side of the inner circumferential surface. The other of the side frame and the cushion panel is provided with a recess forming portion facing the outer circumferential surface of the elastically deformed portion, the recess forming portion having an inner surface configured to be brought into pressure contact with the outer circumferential surface expanded by insertion of the insertion member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Inoue, Kazunobu Nuno
  • Patent number: 10427570
    Abstract: A seat assembly having a seat back that has a seat back frame and a shell. The seat back frame may extend through a shell opening such that an upper shell cross member is disposed on a back side of the seat back frame and a lower shell cross member may be disposed on a front side of the seat back frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Axel Haby, Stefan Koehler
  • Patent number: 10407174
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a method for installing a seat suspension on a seat frame having a first side frame member and a second side frame member opposed to and spaced apart from each other. The method may include moving a retainer on a first side of the seat suspension in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the first and second side frame members for fastening onto a support member on the first side frame member; and moving a retainer on a second side of the seat suspension in the direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the first and second side frame members for fastening onto a support member on the second side frame member. The second side of the seat suspension is opposed to and spaced apart from the first side of the seat suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: ST ENGINEERING AEROSPACE LTD.
    Inventors: Siang Ann Cheng, Guo Ying Zheng
  • Patent number: 10293726
    Abstract: A device for mounting a headrest in a seat structure of a vehicle seat, in particular a vehicle seat of an automobile. The device includes a connecting part formed from a plate and a tubular receiving element for a retaining rod of a headrest. The receiving element is connected to a bearing section of the connecting part. The connecting part includes a supporting section configured at an angle to the bearing section. The supporting section contacts a seat structure of a vehicle seat in the vehicle height direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Martin Stein, Juergen Maier, Andreas Meinel
  • Patent number: 10239424
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat pad configured to support an occupant and having a through-hole extending through the seat pad in a direction from an occupant sitting side toward a side opposite to the occupant sitting side; and a frame member attached to an opening end of the through-hole on the occupant sitting side, the frame member having an opening configured such that a fixation connecting portion of a child safety seat is inserted into the opening. The frame member is provided with an attaching portion attached to the seat pad. The seat pad includes an attachment pad portion provided integrally with an attachment member including an attachment portion to which the attaching portion of the frame member is attached, the attachment pad portion constituting a part of an inner wall surface of the through-hole. The attaching portion is fixed to the attachment portion with a fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sho Terada, Sonjin Kim, Takahiro Asai, Shinichiro Tajima
  • Patent number: 10220743
    Abstract: A back frame structure of a vehicle seat, the back frame structure including: a pair of side frames extending in an upper and lower direction; and an upper frame that connects upper end sides of the side frames in a bridging manner, the upper frame including: a main body part having a substantially inverted U-shaped cross-section opened downward; and a cover member attached to the main body part so as to close at least a part of an opening end side in the cross-section of the main body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mizobata, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Hirofumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10189373
    Abstract: A seat arrangement, particularly for a vehicle, that includes a second row seat arrangement. The second row seat arrangement includes a first seat, a second seat and a third seat. The first seat can be stored such that direct access to a third row seat arrangement is not limited by the second row seat arrangement. In a two row vehicle, the second row seat arrangement with the first seat stored provides extra space in the second row for placing cargo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ADIENT LUXEMBOURG HOLDING S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Michael John Thomas, Kenneth M. Clark, Robert J. Hicks, Eric B. Michalak, Ganesh Sankaran, Bernd Zimmerbeutel
  • Patent number: 10166895
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback. A back panel includes a front closeout panel. A carrier supports the seatback and includes an upper thoracic region having a peripheral support. A peripheral gap is defined between the front closeout panel and the upper thoracic region. A bottom portion of the upper thoracic region includes a lower wall having a sinusoidal configuration. A lower lumber region includes a peripheral support. A peripheral gap is defined between the front closeout panel and the lower lumber region. An upper portion of the lower lumbar region includes an upper wall having a sinusoidal configuration. A plurality of concave connectors couple the lower wall of the upper thoracic region with the upper wall of the lower lumber region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Richard Joseph Soyka, Todd Gagnier, S. M. Akbar Berry, David Andree, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Daniel Ferretti, Nicholas Alphonse Billardello
  • Patent number: 10144324
    Abstract: A seat back structure includes a seat back panel, a cushion member disposed on a seating surface side of the seat back panel, and an intermediate member inserted into a space between the panel and the cushion member. The panel is comprised of a metal plate member and formed with an embossed portion protruding at the seating surface side, and a bead portion protruding at an opposite side from the embossed portion at a position surrounding the embossed portion. The intermediate member has a lower specific gravity than the cushion member and a higher hardness than the cushion member. The intermediate member is formed with a contacting portion contacting the embossed portion and a concaved portion denting toward the cushion member at a position corresponding to the bead portion. A space is formed between the concaved portion and the panel, at a position adjacent to the contacting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiko Tomita, Motoharu Sato
  • Patent number: 10118513
    Abstract: A seat structure. A reinforcing structure in a substantially rectangular frame shape is set in an area where cushion-part side frames and back-part side frames are coupled to each other via reclining mechanism parts, from vicinities of rear portions of the cushion-part side frames up to vicinities of lower portions of the back-part side frames. The reinforcing structure increases unity of a cushion frame and a back frame, and when a load is applied to the back frame due to an impact at the time of a rear-end collision or the like, the load acts as a force deforming mainly the cushion frame via the reinforcing structure, and when the body of a seated person thereafter moves rearward, the load acts as a force deforming mainly the back frame, making it possible to use not only strength of the back frame but also strength of the cushion frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Yumi Ogura, Masahiro Kuromoto
  • Patent number: 10081280
    Abstract: A vehicle seat that can reduce the mass of a side frame without significantly reducing the mechanical strength of the side frame is provided. The vehicle seat comprises a back frame that comprises a side frame that extends substantially vertically, and a recliner that is coupled to a lower end of the side frame and configured so that the back frame is pivotable. The side frame comprises a side frame body that comprises a closed cross-section portion and extends from an upper end of the side frame to the recliner, and a reinforcing member that extends to the recliner from a point between a first and a second end of the side frame body along an extension axis of the side frame body and is fixed to the side frame body with at least a part of the reinforcing member being inserted into the closed cross-section portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Furukawa, Yoshihiro Motoi, Shohei Funaki
  • Patent number: 10034548
    Abstract: An orthopedic device for improving posture while sitting, having a foundation member including a front portion for upper legs and a bowl portion for lower pelvic area. The bowl portion has a central portion and an upwardly inclined lateral portion. The lateral portion and the front portion collectively surround the central portion. A channel attachment is connected with one or more pelvic crest portions. The channel attachment portion connects over a concave recessed portion. The central portion has plural regions of varying flexibility and the lateral portion has plural regions of varying flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: BACKJOY ORTHOTICS, LLC
    Inventor: William Preston Willingham
  • Patent number: 9963057
    Abstract: A vehicle seat and frame thereof which minimize the size of an attachment mechanism of a support structure for supporting the back of a seated person are provided. A seat frame has side frames positioned at right and left sides of a seat back frame and extending in an up to down direction. The side frame has a side portion extending along a side portion of the seat, a rear portion projecting from a rear end of the side portion to an inner side of the seat, and a support member spanned between the right and left side frames, and receives a load of the seated person. The support member has a connecting portion for connecting to the side frame and is attached to the rear portion of the side frame in a state where the positional relationship between the connecting portion and the side frame is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hoshi
  • Patent number: 9930970
    Abstract: An adjustable bed is provided. The adjustable bed can include an outer support perimeter that provides structural support to various components of the adjustable bed. The outer support perimeter can include a plurality of panels, where two panels can be coupled together by a panel connecting member which can be received inside a void of both panels. The panel connecting member can be secured to the two panels using one or more fasteners in such a manner that the fasteners are not visible on the outside surface of the outer support perimeter. The adjustable bed can include a storage compartment positioned beneath a foot segment of a mattress support member. The storage compartment can be accessed by pivoting the foot segment of the mattress support member up and away from the adjustable bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar Gopalakrishnan, Jacob J. Neuenswander
  • Patent number: 9914421
    Abstract: A vehicle seatback assembly includes a cushion assembly having a seating surface. A back panel includes a first side portion, a second side portion, and a back portion. A first living hinge is disposed between the first side portion and back portion. A second living hinge is disposed between the second side portion and back portion. A frame is disposed between the back panel and the cushion assembly. A peripheral cushion structure supports a periphery of the cushion assembly. A closeout panel is coupled with the back panel and is disposed behind the cushion structure to define a peripheral gap between the closeout panel and the cushion structure that extends around the sides of said seatback assembly. A shingled portion of the closeout panel extends behind and couples with the back panel. An airbag is coupled with the frame and is configured to deploy between the closeout and back panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Richard Joseph Soyka, Jr., Lisa Marie Carr, Nicholas Alphonse Billardello
  • Patent number: 9849856
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly that includes a seat back having a passenger support attached to a trim carrier with a suspension assembly connecting a support structure. The support structure includes a first trim piece, a seat frame, and a rear panel portion. The rear panel portion includes one or more upper inverted hooks, an energy transfer bracket, one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips, one or more outer wall detents, and one or more breaking members. An airbag deployment system is positioned proximate the first trim piece and a second trim piece and configured to deploy an airbag between the first and second trim pieces. The deployment energy is dissipated through the rear panel portion's one or more upper inverted hooks, the energy transfer bracket, the one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips, the one or more outer wall detents, and the one or more breaking members of the rear panel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Richard Joseph Soyka, Jr., Martin Voelker, Manoj Desai, Christian J. Hosbach
  • Patent number: 9815397
    Abstract: A bracket for attaching an actuator is easily bonded to a side frame while avoiding interference with a shaft for driving a reclining mechanism. In a seat side frame which is provided at each of both ends of a seat back frame in the width direction, a reclining mechanism, and an actuator, the reclining mechanism is attached to a side wall of the side frame, and the actuator is fixed to an attachment bracket bonded to an inner surface of a portion to which the reclining mechanism is attached in the side wall in the width direction. An upper portion which is disposed above the attachment portion of the reclining mechanism and a lower portion which is disposed below the attachment portion thereof are connected to each other at the rear ends thereof and are separated from each other at the front ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hoshi
  • Patent number: 9731828
    Abstract: An aircraft seat comprises a sitting part, sides and a backrest, having structural components which undergo controlled deformation under the influence of an overload. The sitting part is provided with a backward inclined upper panel and a lower panel provided with at least one absorber forming the crumple zone. The upper panel is made of a framed rack permanently connected to the sides and to the backrest, while the sitting part, placed inside the rack above the absorber, is attached to the front and rear portions of the rack with a non-releasable connection of reduced tensile strength wherein the front raised part of the rack is provided with a transverse reinforcement forming the support of a thigh portion of legs, and each side is supported on two resilient rings in the shape of a split ring having a specified compressive strength, forming an additional crumple zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: FUSIONCOPTER, Sp. z o.o
    Inventor: Jacek Lichota
  • Patent number: 9718385
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle seat including a seatback frame including: a first base member formed of a thin plate member made of resin; a second base member formed of a thin plate member made of resin and disposed facing the first base member; a pass-through portion that is formed to at least one of the first base member or the second base member, and that enables insertion of an injection nozzle for injecting a foaming liquid for a foamed body; and a core section that is configured by the foamed body, that is disposed between the first base member and the second base member, and that is adhered to the first base member and the second base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenzo Yasuda
  • Patent number: RE48673
    Abstract: A cushion having a foam core sandwiched by opposing gel infused viscoelastic pads adhesively attached to the core, the assembly wrapped in a non-woven and received in an upholstery casing, for seating use of the cushion in a furniture piece that during use for seating, the upper one of the pads wicking body heat into the seating cushion away from the person sitting thereon to provide a perception of cooling and the compressed pad readily reboundable to a noncompressed state after occupancy, and the cushion rotatable to selectively alternate the seating pad for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: MAX HOME, LLC
    Inventor: Martin G. Silver