Framework Patents (Class 297/452.18)
  • Publication number: 20130313884
    Abstract: The invention is capable of maintaining the planar view curve profile of the elastic membranous member of the back-contacting surface while enabling the maintenance of a stable and comfortable seated posture. The side frame members (13C) of a backrest frame (13) are formed substantially as obtuse angles with the bend towards the front when viewed from the side. The upper frame member (13A) is formed, in planar view, as an arc that protrudes towards the back. An elastic membranous member (14) is stretched so that when viewed from the side, the intermediate position curves gently towards the front, substantially forming an obtuse angle. Paired left and right shape-maintaining members (17), each slanting outward and upward, connect the lower frame member (13B) near the left and right sides to the bends (13a) in the left and right side frame members. The lower parts of both the left and right sides of the elastic membranous member are supported by the shape-maintaining members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: OKAMURA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsunori Matsumoto, Hiroshi Saotome, Yoshinori Isogai
  • Patent number: 8590126
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger seat configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention utilizes composite materials to achieve significant weight savings relative to conventional seat designs. The seat includes one or more lightweight composite support legs, a lightweight composite seat pan, and a lightweight composite seat back structure. The support legs are coupled to the seat pan, which is in turn coupled to the seat back structure. The support legs utilize composite frame elements that are formed as continuous compression molded composite extrusions. The seat pan includes composite fore and aft cross beams that are also formed as continuous compression molded composite extrusions. The aft cross beam includes a rear flange that serves as a flexible “hinge” for the seat back structure. The seat can leverage producible and relatively inexpensive composite manufacturing techniques such that the seat can be economically produced for use as an economy class seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Max U. Kismarton, James A. Fullerton
  • Patent number: 8590979
    Abstract: A seatback device configured to elastically support a planar elastic body between left and right side frames. The seatback device includes left and right first springs and left and right second springs. The left and right first springs have axes respectively, extending in the width direction of the vehicle. The upper parts of the left and right sides of the planar elastic body body are connected to the left and right side frames through the left and right first springs. The left and right second springs have axes, respectively, extending in the front-and-rear direction of the vehicle body. The lower parts on the left and right sides of the planar elastic body are connected to the left and right side frames through the left and right second springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoki Matsumoto, Hiroyuki Honda
  • Patent number: 8590966
    Abstract: A vibration damper for a vehicle seat back is disclosed. The vibration damper includes an enclosure provided inside the upper end of a vehicle seat back. The enclosure includes a plurality of projections, preferably in the form of spaced apart, vertically extending pins, extending from one or more interior walls of the enclosure. A non-newtonian stress thickening fluid is provided within the enclosure. When the seat back is at rest the stress thickening fluid is free flowing within the enclosure. When the seat back is moved the stress thickening fluid is acted upon by the walls of the enclosure, the internally mounted pins, or both. As the walls and pins push on the fluid it comes under shear stress which causes the fluid to harden. As the pins pass through the hardened fluid they absorb energy and dampen the motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David William Gaines, Peter T. Mueller
  • Publication number: 20130307311
    Abstract: An engagement protrusion (20) extending in the front/back direction of a frame body (13) is provided on one of the opposing surfaces of a notch (16) in the frame body (13) and a fitting member (17) opposite said notch; similarly, an engagement recess (13h) in which the engagement protrusion (20) fits is provided on the other of said surfaces. By means of the moment of the fitting member (17) resulting from the tension of a tension member (14), the engagement protrusion (20) and the engagement recess (13h) are prevented from separating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: OKAMURA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sayaka Morio, Ryo Igarashi
  • Publication number: 20130300178
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may include a vehicle seat having a cushion pad, a surface member, and a rigid member. The cushion pad may be equipped with a main portion for supporting an occupant, and a side support portion provided on a side of the main portion. The side support portion may protrude from the main portion so as to support the occupant. The surface member is provided on a surface of the cushion pad. The rigid member is provided inside the side support portion of the cushion pad. The rigid member is of higher rigidity than the cushion pad, and protrudes in the same direction in which the side support portion protrudes. The rigid member has an end portion contacting the surface member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicants: MOLD TECHNICAL OFFICE CO., LTD., TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki MURATA, Tetsuo HAYASHIDA, Toshio IWASAWA
  • Publication number: 20130292989
    Abstract: Tubular bodies for use in frames for seats of vehicles such as aircraft are described. A tube can include a sidewall that has a variable thickness along the length of the tube. The variable thickness of the sidewalls can result in the tube having a variable inner diameter along the length of the tube. The tube may also include a variable outer diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Gary Tien Le, Aram Aris Kirkorian
  • Patent number: 8573697
    Abstract: A combination includes front and rear frames each having a central hollow portion. The central hollow portion of the front frame includes two lateral sides each having a flexible plate with a plurality of vertically spaced positioning grooves. A guiding groove is defined in each of two lateral sides of the central hollow portion of the rear frame. A waistrest includes a support portion. A lug is formed on each of two sides of the support portion. A protrusion is formed on a rear face of each lug and is received in one of the guiding grooves of the rear frame. A positioning member is formed on the front face of each lug. Each flexible plate abuts the front face of one of the lugs. The positioning member of each lug of the waistrest is engaged in one of the positioning grooves of one of the flexible plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Inventor: Tung-Hua Su
  • Publication number: 20130270031
    Abstract: A seat suspension includes a lower support frame having a first slot, an upper support frame having a second slot, and a biasing member between the upper and lower support frames. A first suspension arm is connected to the lower support frame at a first end for rotation with respect to the lower support frame and connected to the upper support frame at a second end for rotation with respect to the upper support frame. A second suspension arm is connected to the first slot in the lower support frame for rotation with respect to the lower support frame and for translation with respect to the lower support frame along the first slot, and a second end coupled to the second slot in the upper support frame for rotation with respect to the upper support frame and for translation with respect to the upper support frame along the second slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Douglas C. Hahn, Jesse C. Boyarski
  • Patent number: 8556350
    Abstract: A tether bracket assembly for securing a connector of a child seat is used in conjunction with a seat assembly having an U-shaped seat back frame. The U-shaped seat back frame includes a top horizontal cylindrical bar. The tether bracket assembly includes a mounting bracket having a concave surface which includes a curvature complementary to the cylindrical bar of the seat back frame, the concave surface being affixed to an underside of the cylindrical bar. The tether bracket assembly further includes an elongated tether bracket having a first end and an opposite second end. The first end is operatively attached to the mounting bracket. The second end is adapted to engage with a connector of a child seat to secure the child seat to the seat assembly. The elongated tether bracket projects generally upward beyond the top horizontal cylindrical bar of the seat back frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter James Moegling, Todd Rupert Muck, Robert Joseph Hazlewood, Masroor Fahim
  • Patent number: 8550563
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (1), in particular a motor vehicle seat, is provided including fixtures (7) that have a first fixture part (11) and a second fixture part (13), and a backrest structure (19) that has lateral cheeks (21) and at least one bar (23, 25) which connects the lateral cheeks (21). The first fixture part (11) is fixedly connected to a seat part (3) of the vehicle seat (1), in particular by an adapter (15). The second fixture part (13) can be twisted relative to the first fixture part (11) between several useful positions in order to adjust the inclination of the backrest (3) of the vehicle seat (1). The backrest structure (19) is fixedly connected to the second fixture part (13), especially by a second adapter (17). The lateral cheeks (21) of the backrest structure (19) are formed by open profiled sections which are closed in a central zone of the lateral cheeks (21) by at least one cross-bar (27) that is fixedly connected to the lateral cheeks (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Nasshan, Martin Scheib, Roman Lenz
  • Publication number: 20130257131
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a vehicle seat having a frame member and a reinforcing member for reinforcing the frame member. The frame member has an elongated portion. The elongated portion is formed of resin and preferably has a flat-plate-like or bar-like configuration. The elongated portion includes a first portion, a front second portion and a rear second portion. The first portion may be arranged in a longitudinal manner with respect to the vehicle seat and extends vertically. The front second portion extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle seat from a front end of the first portion. The rear second portion extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle seat from a rear end of the first portion. The elongated portion is configured so that a neutral axis is positioned between the front and rear second portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi NISHIURA, Tatsuya KARAKI
  • Publication number: 20130257119
    Abstract: A seating system for use with a vehicle includes a first seat component having a skin having a thermal bond to an in-situ foam core. The first seat component maximum displacement is less than 160 mm when tested according to a test method in ECE R17 regulation for luggage retention with a 20 times the force of gravity crash pulse. A method of manufacture the seat back system is also recited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: Richard W. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20130249269
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle seat including: a framework member that structures a framework of a seatback; a center rear face cover that structures a central portion of a rear face of the seatback; a side rear face cover that structures the seat width direction side portion; an overlap portion at which an end portion of the center rear face cover and an end portion of the side rear face cover are sewn together in an overlapping state, and extending to a seat forward side; an anchor member that is disposed at the overlap portion and that is anchored at the framework member and pulls the overlap portion in to the seat forward side; and a restraining portion that joins at least one of the overlap portion and the anchor member to the framework member, and restrains movement of the overlap portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Takeshi Chokyu, Satoshi Matsuhashi
  • Patent number: 8540318
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention relates to a vehicle seat assembly comprising a seat frame made of structural foam and having a main body portion having a forward portion and a rearward portion, and a wire attachment bracket having a front attachment tab, a rear attachment tab, and a connecting portion extending between the front and rear attachment tabs. The front attachment tab can be securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the forward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, and the rear attachment tab can be securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the rearward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan. In at least one embodiment, the vehicle seat assembly further comprises a cushion supported on the frame, with the cushion being softer than the seat frame, and a trim material disposed over the cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Allyn Folkert, William Barr, Ashford A. Galbreath, Asad S. Ali
  • Patent number: 8539661
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, comprising a structural element that consists of several components which are at least partly connected to one another. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for producing the motor vehicle seat according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Gross, Andreas Dannheisig, Marian Stepankowski, Joshua Hesterberg
  • Publication number: 20130241259
    Abstract: An aircraft seat back including a composite material seat back frame element and a composite seat back diaphragm molded to the seat back frame element during a molding step to provide a composite aircraft seat back formed of a seat back frame element and a seat back diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Nicholas Pozzi, Glenn Allen Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130241260
    Abstract: A method of making a chair includes the steps of providing at least one female fastener device. The at least one female fastener device is inserted into a substrate for attaching the at least one female fastener device to the substrate such that at least a portion of that female fastener device's body defining a channel extends into the substrate and the projections extend through the substrate such that the distal ends of the projections extend beyond a second side of the substrate that is opposite a first side of the substrate. The distal ends of the projections are bent into the second side of the substrate. At least one male fastener is inserted into the channel of the at least one female fastener device to attach a chair component to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: KNOLL, INC.
    Inventors: Hendrik R. van Hekken, Jason Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20130234476
    Abstract: An apparatus for seating a child comprising a seat and a foldable frame for supporting the seat. The frame comprises on left and rights sides: a first and a second frame member connected by a hinge assembly and relatively pivotal through substantially 180 degrees between an unfolded condition and a folded condition, and a third frame member connected to the hinge assembly and pivotal relative to the first and second frame members by less than 180 degrees between an unfolded condition and a folded condition. The first and second frame members are aligned and on opposite sides of the hinge assembly when unfolded and parallel and on the same side of the hinge assembly when folded. The third frame member is parallel with the first and second frame members when folded to provide a compact folded apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: MAMAS AND PAPAS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
    Inventor: Peter Smith
  • Patent number: 8528982
    Abstract: A seat has a configuration in which, in each side frame of a cushion frame, an inner frame and an outer frame which have flanges extending along peripheral edges thereof are faced to each other with a space therebetween at least partially, and the flanges are fixed by hemming process along the entire peripheral edges thereof. Since the entire peripheral edges are hemmed, the inner frame and the outer frame are securely fixed. Additionally, since the inner frame and the outer frame which are thin-plate-shaped are used, reduction in weight of each side frame can be achieved. Further, since the inner frame and the outer frame are faced to each other with a space therebetween at least partially, a compressive/tensile strength required as a side frame can be secured by inserting an expanded bead body into the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Yumi Ogura, Seiji Kawasaki, Eiji Sugimoto, Soichi Makita, Yasuhide Takata, Shigeru Maeda, Ryoji Matsukawa, Hideyuki Yamane, Seiya Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8528980
    Abstract: A seat back unit connected to a seat of a chair comprises a main frame having vertical and horizontal sections. A first hinge portion is disposed on a top end of the vertical section, and a resting seat with an embedded concave portion is fixed to a middle segment of the vertical section. Connection projections are disposed on a junction between the vertical and horizontal sections. A supporting member has one end formed with a second hinge portion, and the other end formed with a crossing portion embedded into the embedded concave portion. A backrest member is composed of vertical and transversal curved sections. The vertical arch section has third and fourth hinge portions corresponding to the first and second hinge portions, respectively. A herringbone-shaped structure composed of the vertical arch section and the transversal curved sections conforms to the profile variation of the human body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventor: Fu-Chih Hsiao
  • Patent number: 8528981
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a backrest and a seat part, at least one of which has a structural element forming a cavity. A filling is disposed in the cavity and configured to influence the stability and/or the deformation behavior of the backrest and/or the seat part. The filling comprises a foam support and a foam material that at least partially surrounds the foam support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Stefan Funk, Martin Zynda, Stefan Josten, Bernd Engels, Andreas Hansen
  • Publication number: 20130229032
    Abstract: A collapsible mobile furniture frame is provided that includes a center frame, a left frame and a right frame. The left and right frames each include a seat base and a seat back. The left and right seat backs are pivotally connected to the left and right seat bases, respectively, such that the left and right seat backs are capable of pivoting downwardly to a collapsed position against the left seat base. Likewise, the right seat back is pivotally connected to the right seat base by right back hinges such that the right back is capable of pivoting downwardly about the right back hinges to a collapsed position against the right seat base. The left and right frames are pivotally connected to the center seat base such that they are capable of pivoting upwardly to a collapsed position against the center seat base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventor: Dustin Monahan
  • Patent number: 8523284
    Abstract: A seat frame includes a projecting portion formed on a surface of a recliner to face a reinforcement plate, the projecting portion having a cross sectional shape with a recessed portion and a protruded portion in a rotational direction of the recliner, the reinforcement plate including a first through-hole for fitting the projecting portion, the upward-downward direction frame including a second through-hole larger than the first through-hole which extends within the second through-hole when the upward-downward direction frame and the reinforcement plate are overlaid, and a three-member welding portion formed by a periphery of the projecting portion, a periphery of the first through-hole, and a periphery of the second through-hole wherein the recliner, the reinforcement plate, and the upward-downward direction frame are welded with the projecting portion of the recliner fitting to the first through-hole of the reinforcement plate while the reinforcement plate and the upward-downward direction frame are overla
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Publication number: 20130221725
    Abstract: A seat back frame includes: a first side member and a second side member each formed into an elongated shape along an up-and-down direction of a seat back so as to support each side portion of the seat back; and a belt guide portion on which tension of a seat belt is applied when the seat belt is pulled, the belt guide portion being formed in an upper portion of the first side member and guiding the seat belt having the one end retained by a seat belt retaining member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 8511748
    Abstract: A molded plastic seat back assembly for a vehicle including at least two polymeric vertical support members including a top portion, a center portion, and a lower portion, wherein at least a portion of the polymeric vertical support members have a alternating wall section portion including a front wall section, a connective middle wall section and a back wall section; at least one cross-seat member connectively disposed between the polymeric vertical support members; at least one recliner bracket connectively disposed to the lower portion of the polymeric vertical support members for anchoring the molded plastic seat back assembly to a seat back recliner assembly; and at least one strap reinforcement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Styron Europe GmbH
    Inventors: David G. McLeod, Ashish Kotnis, Keith L. Kauffman, Mostaffa Ahmed, Padraig Naughton
  • Patent number: 8506011
    Abstract: The vehicle seat of the invention has an active headrest mechanism for moving the headrest forward in the event of a rear-end collision. The active headrest mechanism is composed of a headrest support part in lateral direction provided with a vertical engaging part for supporting a pillar of the headrest, and an upside link mechanism for moving the headrest support part ahead of the backrest, and the upside link mechanism is mounted on the upper frame of one plate of the backrest frame by way of a bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Niitsuma
  • Patent number: 8506015
    Abstract: Tubular bodies for use in frames for seats of vehicles such as aircraft are described. A tube can include a sidewall that has a variable thickness along the length of the tube. The variable thickness of the sidewalls can result in the tube having a variable inner diameter along the length of the tube. The tube may also include a variable outer diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: C&D Zodiac, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Tien Le, Aram Aris Krikorian
  • Patent number: 8506016
    Abstract: A support member has a sheet-shaped body that expands and contracts and that supports a cushion, and a frame-shaped body that fixes the sheet-shaped body in a tensioned state. The sheet-shaped body is attached to a frame member by the frame-shaped body being engaged with the frame member. The frame-shaped body is rigid and maintains a shape that follows an outer shape of the frame member when an occupant is seated, and has a first portion where an end portion of the sheet-shaped body is fixed, and a second portion where the end portion of the sheet-shaped body is not fixed. The second portion is formed at a position that corresponds to a position where a load of the occupant concentrates when the occupant is seated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Mizobata
  • Publication number: 20130193737
    Abstract: Longitudinal frame bodies that are disposed on both sides are coupled to each other by lateral frame bodies at the front side and the rear side to form a seat cushion framework, and a panel is fixed to both of the longitudinal frame bodies to cover, from above, a space between front ends of the longitudinal frame bodies that includes the front-side lateral frame body. A panel side of the front-side lateral frame body includes a concave portion to increase a distance from the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Publication number: 20130187429
    Abstract: The disclosure herein relates to upholstered furniture and methods of manufacturing upholstered furniture from reinforced board such as corrugated board. The method includes assembling a frame from reinforced board, securing an upholstery support member to the reinforced board, covering the frame with upholstery, and securing the upholstery to the upholstery support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventor: Manuel Almanza Guerrero
  • Publication number: 20130187417
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat structure that is lighter than a steel vehicle seat structure while providing the same function thereof. For this, the vehicle seat structure includes a seat cushion frame and a seat back frame connected to the seat cushion frame. At least one of components constituting the seat back frame and the seat cushion frame is formed of a magnesium plate produced through a rolling process and that has a texture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: POSCO
    Inventors: Min-Hong Seo, Kang-Hwan Ahn, Tae-Oh Lee
  • Patent number: 8485606
    Abstract: A seat structure includes a frame having a plurality of parts having respective joining surfaces. Two respective joining surfaces, which belong to two respective different parts, are joined to one another by laser-welding. A method of forming a seat frame having a plurality of parts includes the steps of positioning the parts in a fixture, fixing the position of the parts relative to one another and laser-welding the parts to form the seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Geisler, Michael Hamers, Andreas Schmitter
  • Patent number: 8469451
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, in particular for a passenger automobile, is provided having a seat part, a back part connected thereto so it is rotatable, and a fitting for adjusting the angle between seat and back parts. The fitting including, but not limited to a first fitting part, which is fixedly connected to a structure of the seat part, and a second fitting part, which is rotatable in relation to the first fitting part, and which is fixedly connected to a structure of the back part. The first fitting part being both positively connected and also non-positively connected or materially bonded to the structure of the seat part, and/or the second fitting part being both positively connected and also non-positively connected or materially bonded to the structure of the back part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jens Braun, Armin Rossmann
  • Patent number: 8469446
    Abstract: A shoulder receiving portion is defined in each of two lateral frame members of seat back framework of vehicle seat in order to receive two shoulder portions of seat occupant in the case of rear-end collision, prior to a seat occupant's back portion being moved close to an upper frame member of the seat back framework. The shoulder receiving portion is therefore arranged in an upper region of each of the two lateral frame members so as to project forwardly from a plane where the two lateral frame members lie, and the upper frame member is formed in substantially “inverted-U” shape and inclined backwardly distant from the two lateral frame members, This arrangement avoids unpleasant pressed touch to be given to the seat occupant's back portion in the case of rear-end collision and may prevent a great impact from being imparted to vertebrae of the seat occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kanda, Masaaki Honda, Yosuke Karino
  • Patent number: 8465092
    Abstract: In an upper frame member of seat back framework, an upward-slippage prevention portion is simply defined to prevent a seat occupant's back portion from being slipped or dislocated on and along a seat back in the case of rear-end collision. The upward-slippage prevention portion has a sloped region for receiving the seat occupant's back portion which is to be slipped or dislocated on and along the seat back under inertia when a rear-end collision occurs and thereby preventing an undesired upward slippage or dislocation of that seat occupant's back portion which will result in damage of his or her neck or cervical vertebrae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kanda, Masaaki Honda, Yosuke Karino
  • Patent number: 8459747
    Abstract: A seat belt-integrated vehicle seat is provided with an improved seat frame rigidity, without a size precision decrease of the entire seat frame. The vehicle seat with a seat belt includes a seat back frame having at least a pair of side frames, and an upper frame for coupling a pair of the side frames on the upper side, a shoulder anchor portion provided in an upper part of the side frame, the shoulder anchor portion into which a shoulder belt portion of the seat belt is inserted, and a reclining device provided in a lower part of the side frame, in which the side frame has a closed section structure portion having a hollow closed section, and an extension portion integrally formed by downwardly extending a surface of the closed section structure portion and positioned on the outer side, and the reclining device is attached to the extension portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20130134756
    Abstract: A seat-cushion shell unit is configured to include a support panel provided to be movable up and down and tiltable to an arbitrary angle below a seat cushion shell, and a support pad provided between the seat cushion shell and the support panel. A front end part and a rear end part of a support panel are fixed to the seat frame, and the seat-cushion shell unit is attached to the seat frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130127225
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle seat including a seat structure member which has a frame member which configures a seat framework, a pad member which configures an outer shape of the seat and is configured to elastically support an occupant, and a sheet-like elastic fiber body which is disposed on a rear surface of the pad member. The pad member is disposed on the frame member while the elastic fiber body contacting the frame member. The elastic fiber body includes protrusions which protrude toward the frame member and recesses which are closer to the pad member than the protrusions, and the elastic fiber body is configured to come into point or line contact with the frame member by the protrusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicants: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, MOLD TECHNICAL OFFICE CO., LTD., TOYOTA TSUSHO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Mold Technical Office Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130119739
    Abstract: A foldable chair includes a chair seat, a foldable frame having at least a stand frame and at least a support frame supporting said stand frame, and a plurality of support stoppers for mounting said stand frame to said support frame, wherein said chair seat is mounted to said stand frame in such a manner that said stand frame unfolds said chair seat to define a sitting surface for a user to sit thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventor: Shou Qiang Zhu
  • Publication number: 20130119742
    Abstract: A vehicle seat for a motor vehicle is provided. The vehicle seat includes a seat frame with a front seat shell and a rear cross member. Zigzag springs are arranged between the front seat shell and the rear cross member. Adjacently arranged first zigzag springs form a first spring arrangement and adjacently arranged second zigzag springs form a second spring arrangement, in which the zigzag springs comprise transversely running bearing legs on the end side for inserting the respective bearing leg into the front seat shell in a direction transverse to the seat frame. The bearing legs of the zigzag springs of the first spring arrangement can be inserted into the seat shell in a first direction and the bearing legs of the zigzag springs of the second spring arrangement can be inserted into the seat shell in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • Publication number: 20130119741
    Abstract: A cushion pan for a vehicle seating assembly includes a body portion having at least one pocket including a module retention aperture disposed therein. First and second suspension assembly retainers are disposed in the body portion. A peripheral flange extends substantially orthogonal to the planar extent of the body portion and includes a plurality of trim tabs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Medoro, Majid Arefi, Khaled Ayyash, Johnathan Andrew Line, Michael Kolich, James Patrick Creighton, Robert J. Sack
  • Publication number: 20130119740
    Abstract: A foldable chair includes a chair seat and a foldable frame having two stand frames parallelly and spacedly aligned with each other, wherein said chair seat is extended between said two stand frames for a user to sit on when said foldable chair is unfolded, and two armrests movably connected to said two stand frames respectively for said user to rest his hands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventor: Shou Qiang Zhu
  • Publication number: 20130119743
    Abstract: A composite component such as a seat back for a vehicle comprises a support portion and at least one reinforcing composite layer. The support portion comprises a thermoplastic material and the reinforcing composite layer comprises a polymeric material impregnating a plurality of fibers. The polymeric material of the reinforcing composite layer is integrated with the thermoplastic of the support portion. A method of forming the composite component includes placing the composite layer into a mold, heating the thermoplastic material to a molten state, and disposing the thermoplastic material in the molten state into contact with the composite layer. The method further includes promoting interaction between the thermoplastic material and the polymeric material to integrate the support portion and the reinforcing composite layer. The thermoplastic material supports the reinforcing composite layer and the reinforcing composite layer reinforces the thermoplastic material to prevent failure when subjected to a load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: BASF AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
  • Patent number: 8439440
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back and a seat base extending forward from a lower end of the seat back. The seat base is formed of a first foam member extending laterally across the seat base to absorb loads and a second foam member formed over the first member to form a seating surface of the seat base. At least one plate member has one end over molded by the first foam member and a second, opposite end secured to an associated vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Terrie Ellison
  • Publication number: 20130099548
    Abstract: A load support member includes spaced apart beam members, a linking member and a stop member. In another aspect, the beam includes a support surface defining first and second landing regions, which are in contact with and support a membrane. In another aspect, a brace member is secured between laterally spaced beams, with the brace member having a greater height than width at the end thereof and a greater width than height at the middle thereof. In another aspect, a pair of armrests are joined to a cross member and a pair of spaced apart beams in a releasable engagement. In yet another aspect, a pair of beam members are fixedly joined with a cross member, which is pivotally connected to a link pivotally connected to the beams. A method of assembling a load support structure is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Andrew Keith Hector, John Fredric Aldrich
  • Publication number: 20130088065
    Abstract: Plural weft fascia portions wider than wefts are arranged in a ground texture formed in a lattice shape by warps and the wefts so as to be spaced from each other from one end of the clothing fabric toward the other end thereof in the vertical direction, and the arrangement intervals between the weft fascia portions adjacent to each other in the vertical direction are gradually decreased from one end of the clothing fabric toward the other end in the vertical direction, and then are gradually increased from the minimum portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: OKAMURA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Narita, Ryou Igarashi
  • Publication number: 20130088064
    Abstract: A seat frame for a vehicle seat comprises an upholstered seat, cushion, a seat frame, an upholstery support structure attached thereto and a fan housing with a radial fan. The fan housing has an axial inlet and a radial outlet for the passage of air. The fan housing is supported in the seat frame by means of a holder- which includes at: least one frame-shaped receptacle adapted to receive the radial, outlet of the fan housing and at least one locking element for connecting itself to the tan housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: I. G. BAUERHIN GmbH
    Inventor: I. G. BAUERHIN GmbH
  • Patent number: 8414053
    Abstract: A seat back assembly including a frame formed of a low density material such as expanded polypropylene (EPP) and a reinforcement structure encapsulated within the frame is provided. The reinforcement structure includes a load transferring surface extending between opposite ends of the seat back. Each end of the reinforcement structure is secured to a vehicle body structure. The reinforcement structure transfers a load placed upon the seat back assembly throughout the frame so as to maintain the structural integrity of the frame under a predetermined load. Specifically, the load transferring surface of the reinforcement structure is in contact with the frame and transfers the load across a predetermined area of the frame and to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sweers, Itoh Daisuke, Michael John Ebel, Lindsay Anne-Allor Babian, Gregory Todd Donovan
  • Publication number: 20130082504
    Abstract: A modular seat assembly comprising a plurality of modules easily interchangeable and connected together with mounting interfaces. More particularly, the modular seat assembly comprises a mounting group comprising modules designed for mounting the seat assembly preferably to a vehicle cabin; and a seat group comprising modules designed for assembling an upper seat connectable to the modules of the mounting group. Each module has an independent structural function and is removably connected to the modular seat assembly via its mounting interface, which can include an anti-wobbling fastening mechanism. The independent structural function of module can thus affect the final functionality of the seat assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: BAULTAR I.D. INC.
    Inventor: Etienne ARCHAMBAULT