AUTOMOTIVE SEAT CUSHION PAN
In at least one embodiment, the present invention relates to an automotive seat cushion pan comprising a cushion pan portion having a cushion receiving surface and a side shield portion integral with the cushion pan portion, the cushion pan portion and the integral side shield portion being made of plastic.
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an automotive seat cushion pan having an integral side shield.
2. Background Art
Examples of seats having cushion pans and/or side shields are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,643,474; 4,993,778; 4,998,772; and 5,988,757.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention, an automotive seat cushion pan is provided. In at least one embodiment, the automotive seat pan comprises a cushion pan portion having a cushion receiving surface and a side shield portion integral with the cushion pan portion, the cushion pan portion and the integral side shield portion being made of plastic.
In at least another embodiment of the automotive seat cushion pan of the present invention, the cushion pan portion comprises a first elongated rim portion integral with the cushion pan portion and a second elongated rim portion integral with the cushion pan portion wherein the first and second rim portions are positioned on opposite sides of the cushion receiving surface of the cushion pan portion. In at least another embodiment, the first rim portion and the second rim portion extend longitudinally beyond the cushion receiving surface. In another embodiment, a portion of the first rim portion and a portion of the second rim portion that extend beyond the cushion receiving surface are adapted to be attached to an automotive seat frame.
In at least another embodiment of the automotive seat cushion pan of the present invention, the side shield portion is substantially adjacent to at least one of the rim portions and wherein the side shield portion extends along the cushion pan portion for a length that is at least a substantial portion of the length of the substantially adjacent rim portion. In at least another embodiment, the length of the side shield portion is greater than the length of the rim portion that the side shield portion is adjacent to. In yet another embodiment, the side shield portion extends around a portion of a front edge of the cushion pan portion.
In another embodiment of the automotive seat cushion pan, the plastic used to make the automotive seat cushion pan is a glass filled polypropylene.
In another embodiment of the automotive seat cushion pan, the cushion pan portion is adapted to receive at least one control component. In at least another embodiment, the cushion pan portion further comprises a bracket to receive at least one control component.
In yet another embodiment of the automotive seat cushion pan, the side shield portion is adapted to receive at least one control component. In still another embodiment, the side shield portion comprises an opening that permits a control component to protrude through the side shield.
In still another embodiment of the automotive seat cushion pan, the cushion pan portion is adapted to receive at least one control component and the side shield portion is adapted to receive at least one control component.
In another embodiment of the automotive seat cushion pan, the side shield portion is adapted to bear a load of at least 200 lbs. In yet another embodiment, the side shield portion comprises integrally molded ribs.
In still another embodiment of the automotive seat cushion pan of the present invention, the automotive seat cushion pan is adapted to receive upholstery.
In another embodiment, the automotive seat cushion pan further comprises an elongated bridge extending between and connecting the cushion pan portion and the side shield portion, the bridge having a key way for receiving and retaining a portion of the upholstery. In yet another embodiment, the key way is adapted to receive a wire attached to the upholstery.
In accordance with at least another aspect of the present invention, an automotive seat frame is provided. In at least one embodiment, the automotive seat frame comprises a seat back frame connected to a seat bottom frame, wherein the seat bottom frame includes an automotive seat cushion pan comprising a plastic cushion pan portion having a cushion receiving surface and a plastic side shield portion integral with the cushion pan portion.
In accordance with at least one other aspect of the present invention, an automotive seat assembly is provided. In at least one embodiment, the automotive seat assembly comprises a seat back frame, a seat back cushion disposed on the seat back frame, a seat back cover covering the seat back cushion and the seat back frame, a seat bottom frame, a seat bottom cushion, a seat bottom cover covering the seat bottom cushion and the seat bottom frame, wherein the seat back frame is connected to the seat bottom frame and wherein the seat bottom frame includes an automotive seat cushion pan comprising a plastic cushion pan portion having a cushion receiving surface and a plastic side shield portion integral with the cushion pan portion.
While exemplary embodiments in accordance with the invention are illustrated and disclosed, such disclosures should not be construed to limit the claims. It is anticipated that various modifications and alternative designs may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following descriptions are merely exemplary in nature and are in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or its uses.
Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred compositions, embodiments, and methods of the present invention, which constitute the best modes of practicing the invention presently known to the inventors. The figures are not necessarily to scale. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for any aspect of the invention and/or as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
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The automotive seat cushion pan of the present invention combines the automotive seat cushion pan and the automotive seat side shield into a single, unitary structure having a seat cushion pan portion and a side shield potion. It can be constructed of plastic and can be manufactured using any conventional method of manufacturing plastic components including injection molding.
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Under the present invention, the automotive seat side shield portion 15 and the automotive seat cushion pan 10 are conjoined along a plane of connection. This construction provides a sufficiently strong side shield portion 15 that can support a significant load such as 200 lbs.
The unitary construction of the seat cushion pan 5 helps automotive seat assembly manufacturers increase the load bearing ability of the side shield. The integrated side shield portion's 15 ability to bear a load can be further enhanced by incorporating ribs 25 into the side shield portion 15 (see
The plastic used to manufacture the automotive seat cushion pan 5 can impact its strength. Though any suitable plastic can be utilized in the manufacture of the automotive seat cushion pan 5, applicants have found that the use of a glass filled polypropylene provides a desirable level of strength for both the cushion pan portion 10 and side shield portion 15.
An additional advantage of making the automotive seat cushion pan 5 out of plastic is the ability to mold structures directly into the surface of the seat cushion pan 5 which enable it to receive various control components such as motors, fans, switches or the like. This eliminates the need for additional attachment components such as brackets which would increase both the cost and the complexity of manufacture. In the embodiment shown in
Current automotive seat bottom upholstery, suitable for upholstering current automotive seat bottoms equipped with separate seat cushion pan and side shields may not compatible with an automotive seat assembly equipped with the seat cushion pan 5 of the present invention. To accommodate the need to upholster an automotive seat bottom equipped with the seat cushion pan 5, in at least one embodiment, a keyway 20 is provided in an elongated bridge 19 extending between and connecting the cushion pan portion 10 and the side shield portion 15. This keyway 20 can receive and secure the seat bottom upholstery 4. This is illustrated in
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. An automotive seat cushion pan comprising:
- a cushion pan portion having a cushion receiving surface and a plurality of rim portions at least partially transverse to the cushion receiving surface; and
- a side shield portion distinct from the plurality of rim portions and formed integrally with the cushion pan portion, the side shield portion being substantially adjacent at least one of the rim portions, the cushion pan portion and the integral side shield portion being made of a material comprising plastic.
2. The automotive seat cushion pan of claim 1 wherein the plurality of rim portions comprise a first elongated rim portion integral with the cushion pan portion and a second elongated rim portion integral with the cushion pan portion and wherein the first and second rim portions are positioned on opposite sides of the cushion receiving surface of the cushion pan portion.
3. The automotive seat cushion pan of claim 2 wherein the first rim portion and the second rim portion have portions that extend longitudinally beyond the cushion receiving surface.
4. The automotive seat cushion pan of claim 3 wherein the portions of the first and second rim portions that extend beyond the cushion receiving surface are adapted to be attached to an automotive seat frame.
5. The automotive seat cushion pan of claim 3 wherein the side shield portion is substantially adjacent to at least one of the rim portions and wherein the side shield portion extends along the cushion pan portion for a length that is at least a substantial portion of the length of the substantially adjacent rim portion.
6. The automotive seat cushion pan of claim 5 wherein the length of the side shield portion is greater than the length of the substantially adjacent rim portion.
7. The automotive seat cushion pan of claim 5 wherein the side shield portion extends around a portion of a front edge of the cushion pan portion.
8. The automotive seat cushion pan of claim 1 wherein the plastic comprises a glass filled polypropylene.
9. The automotive seat cushion pan of claim 1 wherein the cushion pan portion is adapted to receive at least one control component.
10. The automotive seat cushion pan of claim 9 wherein the cushion pan portion further comprises a bracket to receive the at least one control component.
11. The automotive seat cushion pan of claim 1 wherein the side shield portion is adapted to receive at least one control component.
12. The automotive seat cushion pan of claim 11 wherein the side shield portion comprises an opening that permits a control component to protrude through the side shield.
13. The automotive seat cushion pan of claim 1 wherein the cushion pan portion is adapted to receive at least one control component and the side shield portion is adapted to receive at least one control component.
14. The automotive seat cushion pan of claim 1 wherein the side shield portion is adapted to bear a load of at least 200 lbs.
15. The automotive seat cushion pan of claim 14 wherein the side shield portion comprises integrally molded ribs.
16. The automotive seat cushion pan of claim 1 wherein the automotive seat cushion pan is adapted to receive upholstery.
17. An automotive seat cushion pan comprising:
- a cushion pan portion having a cushion receiving surface;
- a side shield portion integral with the cushion pan portion, the cushion pan portion and the integral side shield portion being made of a material comprising plastic; and
- an elongated bridge for receiving upholstery, the elongated bridge extending between and connecting the cushion pan portion and the side shield portion, the bridge having a key way for receiving and retaining a portion of the upholstery.
18. The automotive seat cushion of claim 17 wherein the key way is adapted to receive a wire attached to the upholstery.
19. (canceled)
20. An automotive seat assembly comprising:
- a seat back frame;
- a seat back cushion disposed on the seat back frame;
- a seat back cover covering the seat back cushion and the seat back frame;
- a seat bottom frame;
- a seat bottom cushion disposed on the seat bottom frame; and
- a seat bottom cover covering the seat bottom cushion and the seat bottom frame;
- wherein the seat back frame is connected to the seat bottom frame; and
- wherein the seat bottom frame includes a plastic automotive seat cushion pan comprising a cushion receiving surface, a plurality of rim portions transverse to the cushion receiving surface, and a plastic side shield portion distinct from the plurality of rim portions and formed integrally with the cushion pan portion, the side shield portion being disposed substantially adjacent at least one of the rim portions.
21. The automotive seat cushion pan of claim 17 wherein key way extends throughout substantially an entire length of the bridge.
Type: Application
Filed: May 23, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 29, 2007
Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION (Southfield, MI)
Inventors: Vincent Adragna (New Hudson, MI), Eric Beaulieu (Farmington Hills, MI), Gary Greiner (Chesterfield Township, MI)
Application Number: 11/419,845
International Classification: A47C 7/02 (20060101);