Framework Patents (Class 297/452.18)
  • Publication number: 20120126606
    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: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: SEKISUI PLASTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Takakura, Takeharu Nakano, Takehiro Togami
  • Publication number: 20120119559
    Abstract: A method is for obtaining a ready-to-fit seat module, and module obtained. The seat module, includes a block of foam (3), a textile cover (4), and a metal seat part (7) with a support function, has as a fundamental feature an insert made up of a rigid or semi-rigid base (5) forming a one-piece body (1) with the block of foam (3) and the cover (4) in such a way that the one-piece body (1) is mounted on the metal seat part(7) to constitute a seat module that is ready to fit to the bodywork of a vehicle, all without the need for coupling elements between the foam block (3) and cover (4). It is possible for the metal seat part and the rigid or semi-rigid block to be standard for the various versions of the same model of vehicle, the block of foam (3) varying for each version of the vehicle model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: Centro Tecnologico de Grupo Copo.
    Inventors: Arturo González Pérez, Sixto Rodríguez Coello, Noelia Lorenzo Bujan, Alejandro Plaza Álvarez
  • Publication number: 20120112512
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat, including: a frame; a rod of which ends are held by the frame; and a pad of which back side is supported by the rod. The rod has: a the metal core; and a resin member that is injection molded under a state where the core is set in a forming mold and the core is positioned with respect to the forming mold by projections of the forming mold and covers the ends of the core. The resin member is locked on hooks that are formed on the frame, and recesses of the resin member, which are formed by the projections of the forming mold, are disposed in a position that is spaced from the hooks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi SAKAI, Kazuhiro TAWADA
  • Publication number: 20120112513
    Abstract: A seatback for a vehicle seat, the seatback including: a frame to which a pad is mounted, the frame including, a pair of side frames extending along respective side parts of the seatback, and an extension bar extending between the side frames; and a cover that is rotatably attached to the extension bar along an outer surface of the extension bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki MITSUOKA, Kazuhiro TAWADA
  • Patent number: 8172298
    Abstract: A reinforcement for rear seat backs is disclosed herein. The rear seat back reinforcement of the present invention includes a luggage bar, which is provided between a rear package tray and a floor panel and has a holding member and a mounting member, and a wire frame, which is held by the holding member of the luggage bar and is fastened at the lower end thereof to the floor panel by the mounting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Dong Woo Jeong
  • Patent number: 8172318
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a pad carrier with a wire frame and a seat cushion that rests on the pad carrier. The seat cushion structure is connected to the pad carrier and absorbs energy by deformation in the event of high forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mathias Kruger, Markus-Claus Kubler, Roland Traub
  • Publication number: 20120098322
    Abstract: A seat frame device for having at least two frame parts which are connected by way of at least one connection. At least one connection is formed at least partially of a pin connection, having at least one pin which is secured in the respective connection position by way of a safety connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: RECARO AIRCRAFT SEATING GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Kurt Müller
  • Patent number: 8162397
    Abstract: An adjustable seat assembly for a vehicle includes a frame and a covering. The covering has a first portion and a second portion. A flexure region, having an arched shape, is disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The covering at least partially extends over the frame to the first portion. An adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to the covering, at the first portion. The first portion and the second portion define a linear distance therebetween. The adjustment mechanism is configured to move the first portion relative to the second portion such that the flexure region moves to change the linear distance between the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daniel W. Booth, Robert L. Demick
  • Publication number: 20120091780
    Abstract: A seat frame device, in particular a seat frame device for means of transportation, having at least two frame parts which are connected by way of at least one glued joint, wherein at least one of the frame parts is at least part of a seat divider and/or set leg, having at least one adhesive surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventor: Kurt Müller
  • Patent number: 8157322
    Abstract: A seat back assembly including a frame molded from expanded polypropylene (EPP). The expanded polypropylene frame includes a first surface and a second surface. The EPP frame is molded so as to include at least one standoff. The standoff extends outwardly from the second surface into a contact surface. The contact surface is registered to engage a vehicle body structure. Thus when the seat back experiences a frontal load, the frontal load is transformed so as to compress the standoff, and also transfers a load to the vehicle body structure. The EPP frame may also be molded so as to encapsulate an armrest bracket for attaching a pivotable armrest, or attachment wires to secure the seat back assembly to the vehicle body. The EPP frame may also be molded to include a headrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Itoh Daisuke, Lindsay Anne-Allor Babian, Shelley Bridget Szalay
  • Patent number: 8152215
    Abstract: A utility vehicle comprises a vehicle body frame; a seat frame including a seat bottom support member and a seat backrest support member, at least the seat bottom support member and the seat backrest support member being formed by square pipes with rectangular cross-sections; a seat bottom fastened to the seat bottom support member; and a seat backrest fastened to the seat backrest support member; wherein the seat bottom support member and the seat backrest support member of the seat frame are integral with each other to have a bent portion; and the seat bottom support member of the seat frame is fastened to the vehicle body frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Hidetoshi Kaku, Tyler Furman, Kazuhiro Maeda
  • Publication number: 20120074755
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat-back frame for a vehicle seat, which seat-back frame has a frame region extending transversely and two frame regions extending vertically and is of a U-shaped form. The object to provide a seat-back frame of the generic kind which has a minimum of components and at the same time allows a seat-back frame for belt-integrated vehicle seats to be provided easily is met in that there is provided a first half-shell made of a metal, which first half-shell forms a sub-region of each of the vertically extending frame regions of the seat-back frame and forms a sub-region of the transversely extending frame region of the seat-back frame, and there is provided a second sheet-metal half-shell which is connected to the first half-shell by bonding and which reinforces at least the transversely extending frame region of the seat-back frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Cristina Matthey, Thomas Flehmig, Andreas Ulrichs
  • Patent number: 8132862
    Abstract: A seat back frame for a vehicle for supporting a seat back, includes a first back frame, at which a shoulder belt anchor for supporting one end portion of a seat belt is provided, a second back frame arranged substantially in parallel with the first back frame, and a cross member connecting the first back frame and the second back frame, wherein a protruding portion or a recessed portion is formed at the cross member so as to extend in a longitudinal direction thereof, a first recessed surface portion or a first protruding surface portion is formed at the first back frame and a second recessed surface portion or a second protruding surface portion is formed at the second back frame so that the first back frame and the second back frame are fittedly connected to the protruding portion or the recessed portion of the cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 8128174
    Abstract: A framework and method of forming a framework is provided for a backrest of a vehicle seat. The framework includes a support member having a first wall portion and a second wall portion. The second wall section is spaced from the first wall portion at a plurality of locations to form a plurality of hollow pocketed sections. An expandable plastic material is disposed in and substantially fills the plurality of pocketed sections. The support member in cooperation with the expandable plastic material provides rigidity to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Brunner, Klaus Boes
  • Publication number: 20120049604
    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: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Terrie Ellison
  • Publication number: 20120049603
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seatback and a seat base extending forward from a lower end of the seatback. 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. The first foam member is formed of complementary portions that mate together to form the first foam member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Terrie Ellison
  • Patent number: 8118361
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seat bottom and a seatback. The seatback includes a seatback frame and is selectively rotatable relative to the seat bottom from an upright position to a forward position. A seatbelt assembly includes a retractor coupled to the seatback frame and a belt selectively extendable from and retractable to the retractor. A first end of the belt is disposed in the retractor. A guide is coupled to the seatback frame and defines an orifice with the belt slideably extending through the orifice. The retractor and the guide are fixed relative to the seatback frame and the second end of the belt is fixed to the seatback frame. The retractor, the guide, and both ends of the belt rotate from the upright position to the forward position in response to a force exerted on the seatback frame during rapid deceleration of the seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Syntec Seating Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Ronald C. Lamparter, Patrick M. Glance
  • Publication number: 20120038199
    Abstract: A seatback device configured in such a manner that a planar elastic body (22) is elastically supported between a pair of left and right side frames (25, 26) which separated from each other. The seatback device (10) includes a pair of left and right first springs (81, 82) and a pair of left and right second springs (84, 85). The pair of left and right first springs have axes (91, 92), respectively, extending in the width direction of the vehicle. The upper parts of the left and right sides of the planar elastic body (22) are connected to the left and right side frames (25, 26) through the left and right first springs. The pair of left and right second springs (84, 85) have axes (93, 94), 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 (22) are connected to the left and right side frames (25, 26) through the left and right second springs (84, 85).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Matsumoto, Hiroyuki Honda
  • Publication number: 20120030870
    Abstract: Apparatus for a perineal wash system includes a seat with a pair of pads spaced apart front to back to define a gap. The pads and frame define front and rear access areas dimensioned to allow a caregiver to access the perineal area of a seated person. In various embodiments at least one pad is movable sideways and may include a biasing spring, an operating handle, and/or a latch. The seat is suitable for a shower chair, a wall-mounted chair, and a bathtub chair. A gas spring optionally lifts one end of the seat. In one embodiment a perineal washer is supported adjacent the seat. The washer receives a nozzle of a sprayer and redirects the spray through a movable conduit to direct liquid upward to the perineum. In one embodiment a commode pot below the seat has a gap sufficient to avoid pinching dangling body parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventor: David B. Storm
  • Publication number: 20120025579
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a back frame including: a back frame body that is formed by bending a pipe into a rectangular form such that both ends of the pipe are located at one of four corner portions of the rectangular form; and a pair of side frames that are joined, respectively, to a first corner portion which is one of the corner portions of the back frame body and at which the both ends of the pipe are located and a second corner portion that is another of the corner portions of the back frame body and is laterally next to the first corner portion. One of the ends of the pipe is butt-welded to one of the side frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya ONO, Yuichi MATSUI, Yukinori SUGIURA, Yoshiro HARA, Takashi OKADA
  • Publication number: 20120025574
    Abstract: A chair has a seat support (101), a seat portion (13), a back portion (15), and a supporting frame. The supporting frame is formed by a castored base (11), a height adjustment mechanism (17), and a main transom (21). The seat portion (13) is selectively moveable relative to the supporting frame, with the seat portion having a locked configuration and a released configuration. The back portion has a back frame (25) and a compliant cover (61). The back frame has hook features for receiving a portion of the compliant cover (61). The back portion (15) is reclinable relative to the supporting frame between an upright position and a reclined position. A recline mechanism has deformable members operatively connecting the seat portion and the supporting frame. A recline resistance mechanism is selectively engageable to resist movement of the back portion toward the reclined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Formway Furniture Limited
    Inventors: Paul Michael Wilkinson, Kent Wallace Parker, Peter Tierney, Lyall Douglas Stewart, Gregory William Baum
  • Publication number: 20120019039
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a pair of lower rails that are attached to a vehicle floor and extend parallel to one another, a pair of upper rails that are slidably attached to the lower rails, and a seat cushion that is attached to the pair of upper rails. The seat cushion includes i) a pair of pipe members, each pipe member being a single member that includes a long portion that extends along the corresponding upper rail, and a leg portion that extends downward from a first end portion of the long portion and that is attached to the corresponding upper rail; ii) a first connecting pipe that connects the first end portions of the pair of long portions together; and iii) a pair of plate members extending from the upper rails to the long portions, and attached to second end portions of the long portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiro HARA, Yuichi MATSUI, Yukinori SUGIURA, Tatsuya ONO, Takashi OKADA
  • Publication number: 20120007406
    Abstract: A frame support structure of a vehicle seat includes a frame and a bracket supporting the frame on a vehicle floor. The frame extends toward a first side of a vehicle seat cushion in the seat width direction to extend the seat cushion to the direction of the first side. One end of the frame is connected to the first side of the vehicle seat cushion. The bracket includes a first support plate and a second support plate, which extends in a direction perpendicular to the first support plate. An edge of the second support plate is fixed to that of the first support plate on a side opposite from the first side. A plate face of the first support plate is fixed to a front or a rear surface of the frame and the second support plate is fixed to a lower surface of the horizontal frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masato YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 8091237
    Abstract: A method for producing a rear crossmember for a vehicle seat that includes the steps of providing metal plate stock having a first edge and a second edge as well as performing a simultaneous punching and clinching operation to locate and secure a plurality of threaded fasteners into the plate stock at predetermined points. This operation causes an opening to be punched through the plate stock and the fasteners to be permanently retained in the plate stock at the openings. The plurality of fasteners provide threaded connection points that are employed in the further construction of the vehicle seat. A rolling operation is employed to cause the first edge of the plate stock to come into close proximity with the second edge of the plate stock in such a manner as to form the desired cross-sectional shape for the rear crossmember and a welding operation used to secure the first edge to the second edge thereby forming the rolled plate stock into the desired rear crossmember.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: James C. Binelli
  • Patent number: 8083292
    Abstract: A seatback frame for vehicles has a lower cross member that prevents a back pad and a recliner hinge shaft from interfering with each other. The seatback frame includes a back frame and a lower cross member. The lower cross member includes a reinforcing part and a hinge-shaft cover. The back frame is hinged to a seat frame via a recliner hinge shaft. The lower cross member couples both sides of the lower end of the back frame to each other. The reinforcing part has the shape of an embossment which extends in a longitudinal direction of the lower cross member. The hinge-shaft cover is provided on the lower portion of the lower cross member, and is bent to surround the recliner hinge shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Byung Yong Choi, Sang Do Park, Dong Woo Jeong, Sang Nam Park
  • Patent number: 8079642
    Abstract: A magnesium alloy frame part for use in a seat frame of a motorcycle includes a seat mounting section arranged to mount a seat thereon, the seat mounting section extending along a vehicle length direction; a first side wall section extending from the seat mounting section; a second side wall section extending from the seat mounting section and being located on the outer side, along a vehicle width direction, of the first side wall section; and a plurality of protrusions provided at at least one of a boundary between the seat mounting section and the first side wall section and a boundary between the seat mounting section and the second side wall section. The seat mounting section has a thickness greater than at least one of a thickness of the first side wall section and a thickness of the second side wall section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaharu Suzuki, Junichi Inami
  • Publication number: 20110298269
    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: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi MIZOBATA
  • Publication number: 20110298268
    Abstract: An engaging structure has a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion provided on at least one portion from among a first attaching portion and a second attaching portion, and an engagable portion provided on another portion that is different from the one portion. The first attaching portion is overlapped with the second attaching portion such that the first engaging portion abuts against a first edge of the other portion and the second engaging portion abuts against a second edge of the other portion that is different from the first edge. A support member is engaged with a frame member by one of the first engaging portion or the second engaging portion being hooked onto the engagable portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi MIZOBATA
  • Publication number: 20110285161
    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: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sweers, Itoh Daisuke, Michael John Ebel, Lindsay Anne-Allor Babian, Gregory Todd Donovan
  • Patent number: 8061779
    Abstract: A frame structure of a seat back for a vehicle contains a seat back frame which includes a framework disposed endlessly along a peripheral edge of a panel frame in a plane form with a substantially rectangular shape, the framework including a steel tube portion with a closed rectangular cross-section into which a pressed member is formed by welding in accordance with a position where the seat back for the vehicle is fixed to a vehicle body, the steel tube portion contains a surface on which the seat back for the vehicle is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Nakagaki, Yuji Tokiwa
  • Publication number: 20110278892
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat and to a method for producing said vehicle seat, in particular for motor vehicles, comprising a plurality of structural or retaining parts which are joined together or to a further part in at least one joining region, the join being produced by friction welding in at least one of the joining regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO. KG, COBURG
    Inventors: Gregor Kroener, Sandra Kieser
  • Publication number: 20110278901
    Abstract: To achieve further weight reduction and thinning of a seat structure. A laminated body obtained by sandwiching a planar member 4 made of cloth between planar members 2 and 3 made of synthetic resin to join them to one another via adhesive agent is used in a shell type frame member of the seat structure. Upon receipt of an impact, delamination is caused between the respective layers configuring the laminated body. Thereby, both the tensile stress and the Izod impact strength of the laminated body are lowered as compared with those of a homogeneous laminated body obtained by joining planer members made of homogeneous materials. That is, impact energy is converted to a force causing delamination between the planar members in the laminated body to be consumed, thereby absorbing the impact energy. Since the shell type frame member itself can absorb the impact, further weight reduction and thinning of the shell type frame member and a seat structure using the same can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Yasuhide Takata, Yumi Ogura
  • Patent number: 8056984
    Abstract: The invention relates to a head rest carrying element which is produced out of a tubular member and which, can be connected to a seat at one end, and which carries a head rest at its second end. The tubular member is produced by being formed out of a flexibly rolled strip material with a variable wall thickness. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process of producing such a head rest carrying element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventors: Stephan Hentschel, Peter Finge, Georg Mintkewitz, Andreas Rinsdorf
  • Publication number: 20110272992
    Abstract: A method for producing a connection for a motor vehicle seat, wherein a seat frame side part is welded to a seat rail to form the connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Anthony Ferenc, Anil Bhat, Alan McKeown, Denis Menard, Sebastian Moser
  • Patent number: 8047605
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention can include a vehicle seat, a seat frame having a cushion frame, the cushion frame with a first and second side frame, a bead extending from an outer side of one of the first and second side frame, the bead including a first and second inclined surface connected at a ridge portion, and a notch portion defined in a lower portion of the at least one of the first and second side frame, wherein the notch portion is positioned proximate the bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Yamazaki, Kenji Kato
  • Patent number: 8047613
    Abstract: A cushion-less passenger seat. The passenger seat includes spaced left and right spreaders, each having a front and rear leg with top and bottom ends and a seating surface formed from a flexible bottom diaphragm attached to and extending between the left and right spreaders. The passenger seat also includes a lumbar support having lower and upper sections and front and back sides formed from a flexible diaphragm. The lower section of the lumbar support is attached to and between the left and right spreaders. The lumbar support upper section extends upwardly above the seat's rear legs and seating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: TIMCO Aviation Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Sam J. Ahad
  • Publication number: 20110254342
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprising a supporting structure and a first and a second contoured panel fitted to the supporting structure and respectively defining the seat portion and the backrest of the seat. The supporting structure comprises a first and a second lateral supporting member extending along opposite sides of the seat and joined to one another by a cross-member extending along the join between the seat portion and the backrest. The first and the second panel are covered with respective flexible cover sheets that are fixed securely to the supporting structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventor: Cosimo De Maina
  • Patent number: 8033602
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle seat that receives by a seatback a load that is input from the side of a vehicle, the vehicle seat including a plate member that has a plurality of uneven portions in which a ridgeline portion extends along the vehicle width direction and is attached to a seatback frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jogen Yamaki, Takeshi Abe, Hisato Oku, Yasuki Motozawa
  • Patent number: 8029066
    Abstract: A backrest assembly includes an annular front frame having a front surface on which inner and outer annular flanges are formed, defining a first annular groove therebetween. A plurality of pegs is formed in the annular groove. A net is mounted in front of the front frame in a tightened state and includes a plurality of peg holes. A periphery of the net covers the outer annular flange of the front frame and is received in the first annular groove. Each peg of the front frame extends through one of the peg holes. Inner and annular wall are formed on a front face of an annular rear frame and define a second annular groove therebetween. A plurality of stubs is formed in the second annular groove. Each stub includes a receptacle receiving one of the pegs. Fasteners are extended through engaging holes in the front and rear frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Inventor: Tung-Hua Su
  • Publication number: 20110233980
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is formed by mounting cushion materials on a seat frame having a seat back frame and a seat cushion frame and covering the cushion materials with skin materials. At least one of the seat back frame and the seat cushion frame is provided with a first frame receiving a load of a passenger, and a second frame spaced from the first frame to face the first frame, and peripheral portions of the first frame and peripheral portions of the second frame are at least partially overlapped with each other to form overlapping portions, and fixed and jointed at a position away from the side where the load of the passenger is received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hoshi
  • Publication number: 20110221254
    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. The first foam member includes at least one channel for interlocking the first foam member and a second foam member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Derek Shane Lindsay, Terrie Ellison
  • Patent number: 8016361
    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: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Max U. Kismarton, Sergey Barmichev
  • Publication number: 20110210596
    Abstract: A one-piece seat structure for use in a vehicle seat assembly comprising a first portion having a first set of characteristics; a second portion having a second set of characteristics; wherein the first set of characteristics differs from the second set of characteristics and wherein the number of portions within the same one piece structure can be multiple; and wherein the one-piece seat structure is formed from a tailored welded blank or monolithic blank using a cold forming process with optional additional post forming processes including post form heat treatment, edge treatment, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Ornela Zekavica, Daniel James Sakkinen, Antoine Kmeid, Youzhi Xiong, John David Kotre, Catherine M. Amodeo
  • Publication number: 20110204694
    Abstract: A chair backrest in which a frame-like back frame is covered with a bag-like upholstering material having an open lower end in a state of tension, the back frame being formed by connecting a pair of left and right side portion frames, which extend in an up and down direction, together at upper ends and lower ends thereof by an upper frame and a lower frame which extend in the left and right direction, wherein intermediate portions in the left and right direction of the upper frame and the lower frame are connected to each other by an intermediate frame which is situated behind the both side portion frames and is extended in the up and down direction, thereby causing an intermediate portion of a rear surface portion of the upholstering material to project rearward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: OKAMURA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Igarashi, Ken Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7992936
    Abstract: A seat comprising an underframe and a seat element wherein the seat element comprises a front seat part, a rear seat part, a lower backrest part and an upper backrest part wherein the seat element can be displaced from a basic position into a reclined position, and wherein the seat element comprises at least one supporting arm composed of at least one upper support and at least one lower support having an arcuate profile in a transitory region between the rear seat part and the lower backrest part, and wherein the upper support and the lower support are connected at an upper backrest part. At least one guide element guiding the upper support in a front region of the seat part, and at least one connecting link positioning the upper support and the lower support with respect to each other. The front seat pan: being capable of being pulled back by the upper support when the backrest parts are loaded by an individual leaning against them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Claudia Plikat
  • Publication number: 20110181092
    Abstract: A seat assembly is revealed. A connection slot is formed around a circumference of a rear side of a support and an assembly block is projectingly arranged at a center of the connection slot. At least one channel penetrating from one side to the other side of the assembly block is formed on the assembly block. A cloth surface is covered from a front side to a rear side of the support and a circumference thereof is mounted into the connection slot. A frame formed by injection molding is to cover the circumference of the rear side of the support and fill into the connection slot and the channel so as to connect and secure the cloth surface with the frame as well as the support by multiple bends of the cloth surface and infiltration of frame material into pores of the cloth surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventor: Cheng-Hung Lin
  • Publication number: 20110175424
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat bottom having a seat cushion and a seat bottom frame subassembly adjacent the cushion. The seat bottom frame subassembly has a platform portion with an aperture, a first substantially rigid support member suspended from the platform portion across the aperture, and a second substantially rigid support member suspended from the platform portion across the aperture. The first support member and the second support member are configured to move between the retracted position and a deployed position when a load is applied to the cushion. The first support member and the second support member cooperate to support the cushion when the first support member and the second support member are in the deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Giuseppe Ghisoni, Giorgio Ursino
  • Publication number: 20110169317
    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: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20110156466
    Abstract: A seating apparatus comprises support poles, a seat, a first retaining material, and a second retaining material. The first retaining material may extend from the seat to a first end of the support poles and the second retaining material may extend from the seat to a second end of the support poles to form the seating apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventor: David Edward Linn
  • Publication number: 20110148174
    Abstract: A structural part, such as for a vehicle seat, has at least one panel element, a reinforcement frame, and a reinforcement element. The reinforcement frame has at least one first profile element and one second profile element. The reinforcement frame runs substantially along an edge of the panel element. The reinforcement element is at least partially within a plane of the reinforcement frame, and is connected only to the first profile element and to the panel element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Johnson Control Technology Company
    Inventors: Dirk Eckenroth, Holger Robkes