Upholstery Cover Detachably Connected To Frame Patents (Class 297/218.1)
  • Patent number: 11617449
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a sofa armrest. The sofa armrest includes a main body made by blow molding, the upper end of the inner side surface of the main body is recessed inward to form a fabric mounting groove for mounting armrest fabric, and the lower end of the inner side surface of the main body is provided with clamping-connection grooves for being connected with connectors of a sofa underframe. The sofa armrest is made by a blow molding process, and compared with traditional solid sofa armrests, the sofa armrest has the advantages of low weight, high production speed and less manufacturing materials; when the armrest fabric is squeezed and deformed, debris accumulates on the lower wall of the fabric mounting groove or on a seat cover fabric, cleaning of dust and debris is facilitated, and the overall hygiene of a sofa is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: REMACRO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaohong Li, Weiming Chen
  • Patent number: 11446898
    Abstract: A composite foam article is disclosed herein. The composite foam article comprises a surface layer and a base layer with an interface therebetween. The surface layer comprises a high-resiliency polyurethane foam having an impact resilience of greater than about 50% when tested in accordance with ASTM D3574-17, and presents a seating surface. The base layer comprises a viscoelastic polyurethane foam having an impact resilience of less than about 50% when tested in accordance with ASTM D3574-17, and presents a mounting surface opposite the seating surface. The surface layer and the base layer are present in a thickness ratio of from about 17:3 to about 2:3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Proprietect L.P.
    Inventor: Motonori Kudo
  • Patent number: 11364827
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided with a frame, a cushion pad which is disposed on the frame, a trim cover which covers the cushion pad, and a fastener provided to the surface of the cushion pad, which is installed on the frame. The fastener has a frame affixation section which is affixed to the frame, and a cover engagement section with which an end of the trim cover is engaged, and the fastener is joined to the cushion pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nojima
  • Patent number: 11332048
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat frame having an opening in a plate-shaped part, and an actuator mounted on the plate-shaped part. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a vehicle seat that further contributes to quietness in the interior of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Inose, Kensuke Mizoi
  • Patent number: 11304532
    Abstract: A sofa can be knock-downed without a tool. The sofa includes left and right armrests, a front frame, a seating and a back. The sofa is provided with stowage compartments, each of which is joined by a bolt hole plate located on the frame construction with a bolt connecting medium, and serving as sofa stabilizers are four sofa legs which are placed on at the bottom of the left and right arm frame construction of the sofa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventor: Dedy Gunawan
  • Patent number: 11291310
    Abstract: A seat or back for a chair comprises a frame having a first edge strut and a second edge strut, the first and second edge struts being on opposite edges of the seat or back. The first edge strut has a groove along all or most of its length, an elongate insert, and a mesh, the mesh being attached to the insert along an edge of the mesh. The insert has a section shaped to correspond to the section of the groove, such that the insert can be urged into the groove, the compression of the groove holding the insert in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: BLUE CUBE LTD.
    Inventors: Russell Plant, Daniel Chi Man Ho
  • Patent number: 10898120
    Abstract: Provided is a system for monitoring a state of a user. The system includes a chair including a backrest and a seat plate, at least one flexible tactile sensor positioned in the back plate or seat plate and configured to sense a motion of a user who sits on the chair. The system further includes a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor the state of the user based on the sensed value received from at least one flexible tactile sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: KOREA ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Kunnyun Kim, Kwang Bum Park, Won Hyo Kim, Yeon Hwa Kwak
  • Patent number: 10843602
    Abstract: A seat for vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, with separate backrest and seat base, includes a seat base and a backrest. The seat base is separate from the backrest, and the seat base is constrained to the backrest so that the backrest base can rotate relative to the seat base. The seat base and backrest are each manufactured as one piece of metallic material in a single cold-molding process. At least one of the seat base and backrest includes an engagement edge configured for engaging, via mechanical interference, with a cover for the seat in order to retain the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: PROMA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Carlo Verde, Luca Pino
  • Patent number: 10730417
    Abstract: A seat back board includes: a flexible plate member which is made of a resin material and has the Shore hardness higher than 50, the plate member including: a back-surface covering part which covers a back surface of a seat back; and a bottom-surface covering part which covers a bottom surface of a seat cushion; a sewing part, which is sewn with a cover member covering a front surface and side surfaces of the seat back or is sewn with a coupling member to be coupled with the cover member in a detachable manner, being provided in an edge portion of the back-surface covering part; and a locking part, to be locked in the seat cushion, being provided in the bottom-surface covering part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignees: TACHI-S CO., LTD., KASAI KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Inoue, Akinori Taniguchi, Takayuki Ohmori, Keita Myochin, Saori Aoyama
  • Patent number: 10676000
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly is provided with a structural member adapted to be mounted within a vehicle to provide support to an occupant. The structural member has at least one channel formed therein. A cushion member is provided adjacent to the structural layer. The cushion member has at least one channel formed therethrough. A trim member is secured over the cushion member to form a seating surface. At least one attachment member is mounted to the trim member extending through the at least one channel of the cushion member. The at least one attachment member extends into the at least one channel of the structural member such that at least one of the trim material and the cushion layer is retained on the structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Ashford A. Galbreath, Thomas S. Hicks, Ronald L. Miotto, Asad S. Ali, Mark A. Folkert, William Paruszkiewicz, Paul Severinski, James B. Clauser, Thomas A. Welch, Sr.
  • Patent number: 10660452
    Abstract: A protector or a furniture item having a seat with cushions, a back and arms. At the junctions of the seat panel with arm and back panels, a flap connected to these junctions extends downwardly to approximately the bottom of the cushions wherein an enlarged loop with a rod therein secures the protector in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: P. KAUFMANN, INC.
    Inventor: Nancyann Cartisano
  • Patent number: 10562421
    Abstract: With respect to a vehicular seat, a hook member of a seat skin and a seat frame structure that facilitate assembling of the skin of a seat cushion or a seat back to a seat frame are provided. The vehicular seat includes: a seat cushion to be a seating face portion of the seat; and a seat back provided on the rear side of the seat cushion and to be a backrest portion of the seat. At least either of the seat cushion and the seat back includes an engaging member provided at an end of the skin material thereof with one or more protruded portions. The skin material is engaged with the seat frame by fitting the protruded portions on the engaging member into grooves or openings provided in the seat frame of the vehicular seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Tobata, Naoyuki Makita
  • Patent number: 10473136
    Abstract: A seating assembly for a vehicle comprises: a cushion comprising an outer edge and a plurality of snap-fit-fasteners; and a carrier comprising an outer edge surface and a plurality of snap-fit receivers near the outer edge surface of the carrier arranged to receive the plurality of snap-fit fasteners; wherein the plurality of snap-fit receivers have received and are retaining the plurality of snap-fit fasteners such that the cushion is interconnected with the carrier; and wherein the plurality of snap-fit fasteners and plurality of receivers are arranged to prevent the edge of the cushion from rolling up. The cushion further comprises a lip having an inward facing surface; wherein the cushion at least partially surrounds the carrier with at least a portion of the inward facing surface of the lip facing the outer edge surface of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Christian J. Hosbach, Corbin Shea Johnston, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Kevin Mozurkewich, Andrew Matusko, Brian M. Thiel
  • Patent number: 10413083
    Abstract: A chair component includes a first chair member adapted to support a seated user, a second chair member movable between a first position, wherein the second chair member is substantially coplanar with the first chair member, and a second position, wherein the second chair member is substantially parallel with the first chair member, a cover member wrapped about at least a portion of the first chair member and at least a portion of the second chair member, and a single-piece drawstring operably coupled with the cover member to draw the cover member about the at least a portion of the first chair member and the at least a portion of the second chair member when the second chair member is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Todd David Krupiczewicz, Jeffrey A. Hall, Gordon J. Peterson, Dale M. Groendal
  • Patent number: 10239349
    Abstract: A foldable chair includes a chair body having two front legs, two rear legs connected pivotally to the two front legs; a seat disposed on the chair body; a backrest disposed on the chair body so as to be located above the seat; four leg support elements attached respectively to bottom ends of the two front legs and the two rear legs; four casters attached respectively to bottom sides of the leg support elements; two reinforcing plates attached respectively to inner sides of the two front legs and spaced at a predetermined distance from the leg support elements; and two strengthening rigs attached respectively to the two front legs and extending into the front and rear legs to an extent beyond bottom ends so as to be located between the reinforcing plates and the leg support elements, thereby strengthening the front and rear legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SPEC SEATS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Mei Chuen Lin
  • Patent number: 10207608
    Abstract: This seat for vehicles is provided with: a seat cushion frame that forms the skeleton of the seat part of the seat; a cushion material disposed on the seat cushion frame; and a trim cover that covers the cushion material. The seat cushion frame has a cushion side frame that supports the lateral lower section of the seat part of the seat, and a trim wire that is fixed to the cushion side frame. The ends of the trim cover have a pocket part sewn in a pocket shape, and are configured such that the trim cover is fixed by inserting the trim wire into the pocket part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takumi Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 10202055
    Abstract: The seat device includes: wires (31), fixed at a car body frame, and adapted to fix a child seat; opening portions (33), disposed at a right seat (13A), and adapted to enable the child seat to be connected to the wires (31); and covering portions (35), a base end of each being mounted at the right seat (13A), a front end being a free end, and the covering portions (35) covering the opening portions (33). Each of the covering portions (35) includes a fixing portion (36). The fixing portion (36) is disposed at a front end of the covering portion (35), and is clamped between the right seat (13A) and a wire (31) so as to be fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuma Oga
  • Patent number: 10202057
    Abstract: A surface skin-fastening structure for a vehicle seat for fastening a surface skin to a framework of a vehicle seat, includes a base member which is integral with the framework, a surface skin-pressing member fitted into the base member, an interlocking member provided to an end of the surface skin, and slits provided to the base member. The base member has an extension section, which is an end edge that makes contact with a reverse surface of the surface skin. The slits extend in linear fashion along the end edge of the base member. With the surface skin covering the end edge of the base member, the interlocking member and the end of the surface skin are inserted into one opening of the slits and pass through the slits to appear from the other opening, and are stopped in a state of surface contact at the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoyuki Makita
  • Patent number: 10173564
    Abstract: Lower end portions of an edge and another edge are fixed to a wire through pull-in cloths and a fixing member such that the pull-in cloths pull the lower end portions in toward the rear and into an opening (slit). This enables the edge and the another edge to be closed together in a state in which tension is applied to a front covering and a side covering. This enables the external appearance of a seatback to be preserved. Further, the edge and the another edge can be separated from each other, enabling a connector to be inserted into the opening from between the edge and the another edge, and the connector to be connected to an ISOFIX member. An inferior external appearance of the seatback can accordingly be suppressed while securing insertability of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichiro Fujiwara, Ryousuke Tanaka, Masaharu Sanpei
  • Patent number: 10160357
    Abstract: A seat assembly having improved trim appearance is provided as well as a method and mold tool for making the seat assembly. In certain embodiments, the seat assembly has at least one narrow trench having a substantially constant width of up to 5 mm, which provides for better tolerances when installing a trim cover on the cushion and provides improved appearance and comfort. In certain embodiments, the mold tool has at least one tool insert that is configured to create the at least one narrow trench with a substantially constant width in the cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ashford A. Galbreath, Asad S. Ali, Gregory Alan Lymburner, Paul S. Severinski, Gary Rock, James B. Clauser, Louella Ann Patterson, Thomas A. Welch, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9987959
    Abstract: A seat cover of a vehicle seat configured to cover an outer surface of a seat pad, wherein a part of the seat cover which is configured to cover at least a seating surface of the seat pad consists of a seating surface piece made of a piece of cloth, and wherein, when covering the outer surface of the seat pad, the seat cover is bonded only to the seating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuki Hayashi, Katsuhito Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 9987960
    Abstract: [Purpose] To provide a vehicle seat having a garnish attached thereto, which is simplified in structure for easy secure attachment of the garnish to a seat cushion of the seat, and also highly improved as to outer appearance quality of the seat cushion. [Means for Achieving the Purpose] A vehicle seat of the present invention includes: a frame 4 formed from a sheet metal, the frame standing upright in a vertical direction thereof; a garnish 1 engaged with and fitted to the frame 4 so as to cover an outer peripheral surface of that frame; a cushion element 3 supported by the frame 4; and a trim cover element 2 covering the cushion element 3. In this vehicle seat, a terminal end portion 20 of the trim cover element 2 is fixedly secured to an outer surface of the garnish 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Taguchi, Naoyuki Makita, Ukyo Miyazawa, Daisuke Fujita, Atsushi Ishii, Kotaro Kumagai
  • Patent number: 9981580
    Abstract: A seat for vehicle includes a skin, a substrate to which the skin is applied, and a connection structure for connecting the substrate and the skin. The skin includes a first skin part, and a second skin part made of a soft material for connecting the first skin part and the connection structure. The connection structure includes a first fold-back portion integrally formed with the second skin part, and a second fold-back portion disposed on the substrate. The first fold-back portion is fitted with the second fold-back portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro Kumagai, Atsushi Ishii, Masayuki Taguchi
  • Patent number: 9834431
    Abstract: A listing bead for use in securing upholstery trim covers to upholstery clips embedded in a foam substrate that includes finger-friendly formations on its surface. The formation in an illustrative embodiment defines a flat top at the upper end of a neck that extends between the bead and the top. Illustratively, the top is formed in two outwardly bent L-shapes extending at right angles in opposing directions from the neck. The bead, neck and flat top define confronting halves, joined at the bottom edge, which encase a web that is constructed and arranged to be secured to the trim cover by adhesives, welding or stitching. The web illustratively includes punched and/or cut holes (tactile indicia) at predetermined intervals therealong that provide visual and tactile feedback to the installer on the approximate location of clips in the substrate during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Hope Global, Division of NFA Corp.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Agonia, Andrew W. Santin, Aleksandr V. Boguk
  • Patent number: 9783090
    Abstract: A skin material fastening structure for removably fastening an edge of a first skin material covering a part of molded foam and an edge of a second skin material covering another part of the molded foam in a fastening groove formed in the molded foam. The fastening groove includes first and second sides facing each other, and a bottom extending between lower ends of the first and second sides. A hook and loop fastener is fixed on the first and second sides. Each of the edges of the first and second skin materials has loops capable of engaging with the hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonari Yoshida, Ryuichi Murasaki
  • Patent number: 9783089
    Abstract: A seat trim cover includes a flexible web and a plurality of molded clips spaced-apart at predetermined intervals along a distal edge of the web. Each of the clips includes a base attached to the web and one or more latch elements extending from the base to a point beyond the distal edge of the web. The latch elements of each clip are configured to clasp a cushion retainer when forced into engagement with the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Velcro BVBA
    Inventors: Victor Horst Kheil, Earl Lorne Cowley
  • Patent number: 9771008
    Abstract: A seat back structure for a vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention including a headrest, a seat back frame, a pad disposed in front of a surface of the seat back frame, a backrest surface of the pad, and right and left side supports each provided on either side of the backrest surface in a seat width direction, in which a right slit portion and a left slit portion are provided between the backrest surface and the right and the left side supports, respectively, each of the right slit portion and the left slit portion penetrating the pad in the thickness direction of the pad and extending in a vertical direction of the pad, and the right and the left slit portions are spaced apart from each other in the seat width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Matsumoto, Koji Sano, Yoshitomo Oka, Tatsuya Terauchi, Masayuki Yamaguchi, Kenichi Niitsuma
  • Patent number: 9580001
    Abstract: A seat assembly is provided having a side shield having a leading edge. The side shield adapted to cover at least a portion of the seat cushion of the seat assembly. The assembly further includes a seat cushion, the side shield positioned adjacent to the seat cushion, the seat cushion having an elongated trench adapted to receive the leading edge of the side shield so as to prevent the formation of a gap between the shield and the cushion portion thereby providing an aesthetically appealing appearance to the user. The seat cushion includes a side surface positioned adjacent to the side shield. The trench is further defined as a generally horizontal momentary discontinuous surface extending into the side surface of the seat cushion, the leading edge of the side shield resting within the trench. The side shield extends around the seat cushion to a front portion of the seat cushion and the trench adapted to accept the leading edge of the side shield at the front portion of the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manuufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Ru Chen Sosnowski, Robert Joseph Hazlewood, Patrick J. Edgar, Kyle E. Rosander, Leon Toma
  • Patent number: 9565949
    Abstract: A chair includes a chair component comprising a polymeric material and adapted to at least partially support a seated user, wherein the chair component includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and wherein the chair component further includes a plurality of apertures capable of being accessed from at least the second surface of the chair component. The chair further includes a cover that extends over at least a portion of the first surface and a portion of the second surface which includes the plurality of apertures, and at least one staple comprising a polymeric material, wherein each staple of the at least one staple includes a pair of prongs, and wherein at least one of the prongs extends through the cover extending over the portion of the second surface and is received and retained within one of the plurality of apertures, thereby securing the cover to the chair member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon Jay Peterson
  • Patent number: 9440569
    Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a vehicle seat configured by covering a seat cover on a sitting surface side of a seat frame via a seat pad and by covering a non-sitting surface side of the seat frame with a carpet, the vehicle seat including an end fixing part having a groove into which both ends of the seat cover and the carpet are to be inserted and fixed. The method includes fixing, to the end of the seat cover, an insertion member having stiffness, which can be inserted and fixed in the groove integrally with the seat cover, arranging the carpet such that the end thereof covers an entrance of the groove, and inserting the insertion member into the groove to thus push and fix the end of the carpet in the groove while the end of the carpet abuts on the insertion member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Okugawa, Kazuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9440568
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes: a seat back pad of a vehicle; a rear cover coupled with the seat back pad on the rear side and made of flexible material; and a bracket formed along the periphery of the rear cover, the bracket being coupled with the seat back pad so that its front is supported by the seat back pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp.
    Inventor: Sung Hak Hong
  • Patent number: 9408467
    Abstract: A chair back assembly includes a back shell member comprising a laterally extending top and bottom portions and a pair of longitudinally extending side portions extending between the top and bottom portions and cooperating therewith to define an open space therebetween, a cover having a first surface adapted to support a seated user and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the cover is positioned over the back shell member to cover at least a portion of the open space; and a back frame assembly operably supporting the back shell member and moveable between an upright position, and a reclined position, wherein the back frame assembly causes the back shell to flex in a fore-to-aft direction as the back frame assembly is moved between the upright and reclined positions independent of an external force being exerted on the back shell member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon J. Peterson, Robert J. Battey, Kurt R. Heidmann, Todd T. Andres, Todd D. Krupiczewicz
  • Patent number: 9334055
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for attaching a trim member for a stowage bin to a structure associated with the stowage bin. A bonding member of an attachment element may be bonded to the trim member. A portion of the structure may be received within a groove formed between the bonding member and a biased member of the attachment element. The portion of the structure may be held in place within the groove by the biased member of the attachment element such that the trim member is attached to the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: James Brannon Smith, Lee Alan Beldock, Asim Chadha
  • Patent number: 9308848
    Abstract: A backrest part for a seat, in particular a vehicle seat, includes at least one back metal sheet and individual profiled elements. The back metal sheet has beadings which protrude in the direction of the profiled elements in some sections. The profiled elements are connected to the back metal sheet in a force-fitting and/or bonded manner in a region of the beadings. A section with beadings is formed in each corner of the back metal sheet. The beadings of each section are arranged in parallel at a specifiable distance to one another. The beadings of each section extend diagonally between the adjoining edges of the back metal sheet. The beadings of mutually adjacent sections run at an angle relative to one another. The length of the beadings running parallel to one another in each section decreases in the direction of the corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Nasshan, Martin Scheib
  • Patent number: 9027994
    Abstract: A structure is provided to improve rigidity of a locking structure for skin terminals of a vehicle seat. The locking structure for the skin terminals of the vehicle seat includes a seat frame having a tucking groove on an outer surface, a skin terminal of a skin for covering the seat frame, a holding member fixed to the skin terminal, a carpet terminal surrounded by the holding member, and a cut and bent portion for regulating detachment of the holding member. The skin terminal and the carpet terminal are locked in the tucking groove. The holding member is provided with a projection portion, and the carpet terminal is provided with an engagement member engaged with the projection portion for regulating detachment from the holding member. The projection portion is provided closer to the opening side of the tucking groove than the engagement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Souheil Hage-Hassan, Eiji Toba
  • Patent number: 8973990
    Abstract: A chair component that includes a first chair member that includes a forwardly facing front surface and a rearwardly facing rear surface that define a first thickness therebetween, and at least one raised portion extending rearwardly from the rear surface, wherein the front surface and the at least one raised portion define a second thickness therebetween that is greater than the first thickness, and wherein a majority of the first chair member comprises the first thickness; a cover member wrapped about at least a portion of the first chair member; and a drawstring operably coupled with the cover member to draw the cover member about the at least a portion of the first chair member, wherein the drawstring is secured to the first chair member by at least one fastener that is received within the raised portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Todd D. Krupiczewicz, Jeffrey A. Hall, Gordon J. Peterson, Dale M. Groendal
  • Patent number: 8974004
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a seat component such as a seat cushion and a seat back, the seat component including, a cushioning material constituting an outer shape of the vehicle seat, a through-hole penetrating the cushioning material in a thickness direction thereof, and a skin material configured to cover the cushioning material, wherein a reinforcing wire is embedded into the cushioning material at both sides of the through-hole, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritaka Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8960791
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly that includes a frame structure and a panel coupled with the frame structure that has an occupant support surface. A connection element protrudes from the occupant support surface and borders a predefined area of the occupant support surface. A trim module covers the predefined area and includes an attachment feature extending inward and engaging the connection element to form a seal around the predefined area. A ventilation aperture extends through the panel within the predefined area and an air movement device is coupled with the panel to draw air through the ventilation aperture from an exterior surface of the trim module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Gunnar Groesbeck, Christian J. Hosbach, Johnathan Andrew Line
  • Patent number: 8919878
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention include a vehicle seat having a seat component member, for example a seat cushion or a seat back. The seat component member has a pad forming a seat contour, a cover covering the pad and a mounting portion. At the mounting portion, a part of the cover is mounted to the pad by pulling the part of the cover to the pad. The mounting portion has a first portion for receiving pressure when an occupant seats on the vehicle seat, and a second portion for receiving a pressure lower than that the first portion receives. The mounting portion may have a structure in which the first portion is more flexible than the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritaka Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8857018
    Abstract: A cover-material fixing clip includes: a chuck that pinches a locking hem formed on a back surface of a cover material; a hook that locks a wire provided in a groove of a cushion material; and a guide lever that is provided facing an opening of the hook. A proximal end of the hook is connected to a bottom of the chuck opposite to the cover material. The guide lever is connected to a side surface of the chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuichi Murasaki, Tetsuya Yoshino, Eiichi Sasada
  • Patent number: 8834975
    Abstract: A modular block system that is aesthetically and functionally versatile by providing a plurality of independent puzzle-like block members to form furniture, table, wall and floor coverings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventor: Adam Friedman
  • Patent number: 8801094
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including a three-dimensional woven knitted fabric including a surface-layer-side base fabric, a back-layer-side base fabric, and an intermediate layer that three-dimensionally connects the surface-layer-side base fabric and the back-layer-side base fabric, the three-dimensional woven knitted fabric being tightly stretched on a seat frame by a locking member provided to an end portion thereof to form a seat surface, wherein an edge portion of the three-dimensional woven knitted fabric has a single-layer structure, which includes only the back-layer-side base fabric among the surface-layer-side base fabric, the back-layer-side base fabric and the intermediate layer, and wherein the locking member is provided to an end portion of the back-layer-side base fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Nishiura, Takao Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8794701
    Abstract: A backrest for a chair, including a bag-like upholstery material, with which a back frame is upholstered by fitting the bag-like upholstery material onto the back frame that has a pair of right and left side frames extending in an up-down direction. A low-friction member is disposed on at least one of an inner surface of both side portions of the upholstery material and an outer surface of the right and left side frames contacting the inner surface of the side portions of the upholstery material, the low-friction member being configured to reduce a sliding resistance in an area of contact between the upholstery material and the side frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Okamura Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Nakayama, Kouichirou Wakizono, Ryou Igarashi
  • Publication number: 20140203603
    Abstract: A vehicle seat suspension system includes first and second side supports defining a seatback structure. An upper component and a lower component are provided, each including at least two outwardly extending flex members. A passenger support includes a periphery operably coupled to distal ends of the flex members. An external peripheral gap is defined between the passenger support and the seatback structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Daniel Ferretti, John W. Jaranson, Grant A. Compton, Kendrick Alden Harper, Kevin VanNieulande
  • Patent number: 8783768
    Abstract: The present invention relates a vehicle seat assembly comprising a frame, a cushion supported on the frame, and a trim cover assembly secured over the cushion, the trim cover assembly comprising a leather trim material and a reinforcing layer secured to the leather trim material, the reinforcing layer being less flexible than the leather trim material, the trim cover assembly having a percent reduction in stretch relative to a similar trim cover assembly not having the reinforcing layer of 40% to 95% as measured according to SAE J855.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Paul S. Severinski, Karl Henn, Pusheng Chen, Thomas A. Welch, Sr., Louella Patterson, Larry Hulme, William Paruszkiewicz, Benedict J. Messina, Bryan Orlando
  • Patent number: 8764113
    Abstract: A modular seat assembly including a seat bottom, a seat back, and a fastener. The seat bottom having a frame and a cushion, the frame including a first member having a channel with an open end. The seat back having a back frame, a back cushion, a second member, and a first restraint system. The second member is configured to be removably coupled to the first member by the fastener with the channel of the first member receiving the second member through the open end. The seat assembly is configured such that the second member may be decoupled from the first member to decouple the first seat back from the seat assembly and replace the first seat back with a second seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Michael Smith, Bradley Michael Glance, Thomas Grzybowski, Frank Glenn Walega
  • Patent number: 8733834
    Abstract: A trim assembly for a seat back of a vehicle seat is provided. The seat back has a seat frame and a seat cushion. The trim assembly includes a backboard securable to the seat frame and adapted to form a rear surface of the seat back. The backboard has a channel formed therein and a plurality of spaced apart retaining windows formed along a length of the channel. A trim cover is adapted to cover the seat cushion and form a front surface of the seat back. The trim cover has a cover material portion and a trim retainer connected to the cover material portion. The trim retainer includes an engagement feature. The trim retainer is insertable into the channel such that the engagement feature cooperates with the retaining windows for securing the trim cover to the backboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Palmer
  • Patent number: 8690240
    Abstract: An object is to provide a coupling device protection member that can prevent contact between a cushion material and a coupling device to protect the coupling device. A coupling device protection member is used in a vehicle seat that includes a cushion material that is elastically deformed by loads, a frame member that is stacked to the cushion material to reinforce the cushion material, and a surface cover that covers at least the cushion material, the surface cover being coupled to the frame member via a coupling device, in which the coupling device protection member is attached to the frame material so as to protect the coupling device coupled to the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sekisui Plastics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Takakura, Takeharu Nakano, Takehiro Togami
  • Patent number: 8662583
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment a trim cover assembly has an attachment feature for securing the trim cover to the foam cushion of a vehicle seat. The attachment feature is formed of a strip of touch-fastener material having a first side and a second side disposed adjacent a pair of trim panels. Stitching joins the first side, the second side and the trim panels to each other to form a seam in the trim cover between the pair of trim panels in order to form the attachment feature with the touch-fastener material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Leonardino Guadagno
  • Patent number: 8657383
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an environmentally friendly layered vehicle seat assembly and a method of making the same. In at least one embodiment, the vehicle seat assembly comprises a cushion composite comprising a structural layer and a cushion layer adjacent to the structural layer, and a trim material secured over the cushion composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Ashford A. Galbreath, Asad S. Ali, Mark A. Folkert, Scott A. Ziolek, Terry R. O'Bannon