Having A Trim Panel Patents (Class 297/452.38)
  • Patent number: 11691550
    Abstract: A seat cover for a vehicle may include a lower or bench portion sized and configured to extend over a horizontally-oriented top of a bench of a vehicle seat. The lower portion may include a first section and a second section separated by a slit. The seat cover for the vehicle may also include an upper or backrest portion coupled to the lower portion. The upper portion may be sized and configured to extend upwardly over a backrest of the vehicle seat. The seat cover may be divided into vertical sections that correspond to the seats of a bench seat in a vehicle. One or more of the vertical sections may be removable to accommodate movement of the vehicle seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventor: James Umlauf
  • Patent number: 11124096
    Abstract: Provided is a seat reducible risk of releasing a connection between a bezel and a cover. The seat allows attaching of a child safety seat, and includes a bezel and a cover covering the bezel. The bezel and the cover respectively include a pair of bezel-side overlap portions and a cover-side overlap portion that overlap with each other in an intersecting direction intersecting an attaching-and-detaching-direction of a bezel body and a cover body. One of the bezel-side overlap portions and the cover-side overlap portion are formed with a through-hole, and the other of the bezel-side overlap portions is formed with a female-threaded-hole. Then, in a state where the pair of bezel-side overlap portions and the cover-side overlap portion overlap each other in the intersecting direction, a fastening member is inserted into the through-hole and a male-threaded portion is screwed into the female-threaded-hole to connect between the bezel and the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: DELTA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Onji, Yuya Watase
  • Patent number: 10676001
    Abstract: A seat back (2) has a pad (4) with a side surface covered by a trim cover (5) and a rear surface covered by a back board (6). A back board attachment structure has a folding portion (5a1) with a trim back surface edge portion (5a) folded back to a pad side. A fastener (7a) includes an element (7a2) attached to the folding portion (5a1) to face the pad side. An edge portion (6a) of a folding portion (6a1) of the back board (6), to be the backrest surface side, is folded back to the pad side. A fastener (7b) includes an element (7b2) attached to the folding portion (6a1) to face the pad side. The fasteners (7a and 7b) are engageable in a state with the trim cover provided from the backrest surface side and the back board provided from the back surface side, with respect to the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S.รก r.l.
    Inventors: Kaoru Baba, Yoshihisa Hamano
  • Patent number: 10369905
    Abstract: A vehicle seat support carrier includes an upper seatback panel having a flexible body portion. A first set of flexible suspension members undulate in a first direction. A second set of flexible suspension members undulate in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction. A lower seatback panel is operably coupled to the upper seatback panel. The lower seatback panel includes a border member defining a central aperture and first and second bolster supports. A central portion of each of the first and second bolster supports includes a plurality of flexible suspension members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcos Silva Kondrad, S. M. Akbar Berry, Richard Joseph Soyka, Jr., Johnathan Andrew Line, Nicholas Alphonse Billardello
  • Patent number: 10093209
    Abstract: A side shield is provided for a seat frame. That side shield includes a body having a housing and an integral mounting bridge as well as a seat control switch assembly. The seat control switch assembly is held in an opening defined between the housing and the integral mounting bridge. In addition, a locator feature is carried on the integral mounting bridge. That locator feature receives a locator lug carried on the seat frame. A seat assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jose Alfredo Peregrina Loera, Francisco Javier Ferreira Yanez, Edgardo Fabricio Ortiz Hernandez, Carlos Alberto Caballero De Ita
  • Patent number: 10011206
    Abstract: A simply structured vehicle seat with reduced number of parts includes a cap for covering an anchor storage recess which stores an anchor to be engaged with an engagement member attached to a child seat. The anchor storage recess includes a side part and a bottom part. A cap is provided for covering the anchor storage recess, and includes a flange part, a main body part, and a slit. The main body part has a dimension larger than an inner dimension of the side part of the anchor storage recess. The cap is detachably fitted with the anchor storage recess by engagement between the anchor and the slit and pressure contact between the side part of the anchor storage recess and the main body part of the cap, when the main body of the cap is inserted along the side part into the anchor storage recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignees: TACHI-S CO., LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fujii, Jonathan Garcia, Kengo Kataoka, Makoto Nomura, Kazuhisa Nishimura, Kanae Tsukidate
  • Patent number: 9114741
    Abstract: A first opening through which an end anchor of a seat belt is inserted from above is formed in a side shield member that covers a side portion of a seat cushion. A plug member that plugs up the first opening and has a belt guide hole through which a belt portion of the seat belt is inserted is fit into the first opening. A reinforcing member having a second opening in a portion corresponding to the first opening is arranged on an inside surface of the side shield member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoaki Nagata, Koichiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 8974003
    Abstract: A sound blocking rear seat assembly for an automotive vehicle. The rear seat assembly includes a seat back adjacent to a seat bottom. The seat bottom also defines at least two passenger seating locations. A seat base of the seat bottom extends the width of the seat assembly and has a non-planar three dimensional contoured upper surface. A nonporous resilient sound blocking layer has a shape substantially conforming to the upper surface of the seat base and is located over the seat base such that it extends substantially continuously and uninterruptedly over the width of the seat assembly. Positioned over the sound blocking layer is a resilient seat cushion, and a trim layer is located over the seat cushion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Lacey A. Reedy, Christopher M. Vargo, Paul M. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 8936318
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a moving member that moves as one with a rail configured to move in a vehicle front-rear direction; a seat cushion that is coupled to the moving member through a lifter mechanism, is disposed above the rail, and is configured such that the top-bottom direction position of the seat cushion is capable of being adjusted by the lifter mechanism; and a gap concealing member that extends between a vehicle rear direction lower portion of the seat cushion and the rail to conceal a gap between the seat cushion and the rail. The gap concealing member is integrally formed from the top end portion to the bottom end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Yusuke Ohkawara, Hiroaki Inaba
  • Publication number: 20150008716
    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: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Gunnar Groesbeck, Christian J. Hosbach, Johnathan Andrew Line
  • Patent number: 8926023
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having a backrest which is arranged on a seat part such that it can be pivoted and/or rotated by means of an adjusting mechanism, wherein the adjusting mechanism is covered with a covering and the covering is provided in two parts. The first part is made of a comparatively hard plastic material and the second part is made of a comparatively soft plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Christian Mussmann
  • Publication number: 20140203618
    Abstract: A quick-connect assembly for a vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback structure. A suspension assembly includes a plurality of outwardly extending flex members. A removable trim carrier is disposed over upper and lower components and is removably coupled to distal ends of the plurality of outwardly extending flex members by a friction-fit connection. A cushion is operably coupled with the trim carrier. 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, Marc Kondrad, John W. Jaranson, Daniel Ferretti, Christian Hosbach, Mandeep Singh Sidhu
  • Publication number: 20140183925
    Abstract: A trim cover closeout system for securing adjoining trim cover portions on a vehicle component such as a seat at an opening between the trim cover portions, the system includes first and second trim edge attachment elements each having a mounting surface adapted to be secured to the edge of one of the trim cover portions and it an attachment portion including an outwardly protruding surface, and any longer closure element configured to extend over substantially the entire length of the opening, wherein the closure element may be slidably positioned over the attachment elements to secure the first and second attachment elements and, thereby, the edges of the adjoining trim cover portions to each other to close the opening. A vehicle seat assembly including the trim cover closeout system is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: James CLAUSER, William PARUSZKIEWICZ, Paul S. Severinski, Thomas A. Welch, SR.
  • Patent number: 8764115
    Abstract: A method of assembling an upholstered furniture piece comprising decorative fasteners comprising providing an underlayment material layer, a foam material layer and a covering material layer. The foam material layer is positioned between the underlayment material layer and the covering material layer. The covering material layer extends beyond the underlayment material layer and the foam material layer. Fasteners are used to fasten the underlayment material layer, the foam material layer and the covering material layer together forming a layered component. A template may be used to guide positioning of the fasteners. The fasteners are decorative fasteners. Excess covering material that extends beyond the fasteners is stretched around the edges of the layered component and is affixed to a bottom surface of the layered component, thereby forming a layered assembly. The layered assembly is affixed to an upholstered furniture piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy A. Brandtner
  • Patent number: 8740309
    Abstract: There is provided a seat gap hiding structure in a vehicle seat where a cutout portion is formed on a seat cushion to arrange a seat belt therein, and a strip-shaped member is provided on a seat cover to correspond to the cutout portion at a part of the cutout portion, which is other than an arrangement position of the seat belt to cover a gap around the seat belt. One end portion of the strip-shaped member is fixed to the seat cover and the other end portion thereof is movably fixed to the seat cover using an elastic member. When the strip-shaped member is moved from an original position where the strip-shaped member covers the gap of the cutout portion, the elastic member generates an elastic force to return the strip-shaped member to the original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehiro Kajihara
  • Patent number: 8678507
    Abstract: In an operating lever structure for a vehicle seat in which an opening through which a seat belt extends is provided adjacent to a seat cushion lifting and lowering mechanism and a fixed end portion of the seat belt is connected to a seat cushion frame, a lifter lever includes a plate-like extending portion that is coupled to the lifting and lowering mechanism and a protrusion portion. The plate-like extending portion extends toward a front of the seat. The protrusion portion extends from the front end of the plate-like extending portion toward the outside in the seat width direction. The protrusion portion protrudes from an outer shield through a first exposing port of the outer shield, installed to a side portion of the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Yamazaki, Yoshitaka Tomonari
  • Patent number: 8662589
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a tilting lever provided to an outer part of a seat main body, and by operating the tilting lever, a seat back can be tilted to a position of an upper surface of a seat cushion, wherein the tilting lever is arranged within an inwardly recessed space that is formed to a shield covering an outer part of the seat cushion, and an input movement of an operation to the tilting lever is completed within the recessed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Suzuki, Shogo Ishii, Kazuhisa Isshiki
  • Publication number: 20130257133
    Abstract: A sound blocking rear seat assembly for an automotive vehicle. The rear seat assembly includes a seat back adjacent to a seat bottom. The seat bottom also defines at least two passenger seating locations. A seat base of the seat bottom extends the width of the seat assembly and has a non-planar three dimensional contoured upper surface. A nonporous resilient sound blocking layer has a shape substantially conforming to the upper surface of the seat base and is located over the seat base such that it extends substantially continuously and uninterruptedly over the width of the seat assembly. Positioned over the sound blocking layer is a resilient seat cushion, and a trim layer is located over the seat cushion layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Lacey A. Reedy, Christopher M. Vargo, Paul M. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 8511754
    Abstract: An upholstered seat element for a vehicle seat comprises a foam padding (10) having a surface generally shaped in conformity with an outward surface of the vehicle seat, a trim cover disposed on the foam padding surface, a sheet-type electric device arranged between the foam padding and the trim cover and an attachment assembly securing the trim cover to the foam padding. The foam padding has at least one channel formed therein on the foam padding surface, along which channel the attachment assembly is arranged. The sheet-type device has at least one strip-shaped portion crossing the channel in at least one crossing location. The foam padding has a recess formed therein at the at least one crossing location, the recess being dimensioned in such a way that the strip-shaped portion of the film type device may slide into the recess when the upholstered seat element is subjected to a force inducing deformation of the foam padding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventors: Fabian Leponce, Jean Claude Schmitz, Sanel Imamovic
  • Patent number: 8474917
    Abstract: A seat assembly having a seat and a seat back that is pivotally connected to the seat. A back cover is disposed on a rear portion of the seat back. The back cover includes an interior side and an exterior side. The interior side includes a plurality of laterally-extending ribs aligned with a plurality of engagement members. At least one vertically-extending channel is disposed on the exterior side of the back cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, John W. Jaranson, Christopher J. Kiehler, David Marshman, Kendrick Alden Harper
  • Publication number: 20130113241
    Abstract: On a rear side of seat back, a trim cover assembly of the seat back includes an openable first cover portion disposed centrally thereof and a pair of second cover portions disposed on opposite sides of the first cover portion. A pair of female fastener assemblies are provided to two lateral ends of the first cover portion, respectively, and each comprises: an anchor element; a female fastener element; and a connecting element connected between the anchor and female fastener elements. The anchor element is securely engaged with a seat back frame, thereby neatly securing the two lateral ends of the first cover to the rear side of seat back. The male fastener element is securely engaged with the female fastener element, thereby neatly securing the two second cover portions to the rear side of seat back in alignment with the two lateral ends of the first cover portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Fumiaki Tsuchiya, Michael Dwayne Welch, Joseph Anthony Niemiec
  • Publication number: 20130099549
    Abstract: A vehicle seat device includes a seat base, an upholstery sheet covering the sheet base, and a cover member covering an end region of the upholstery sheet. The cover member includes a cover body of a soft material fastenable to the seat base by a fastener in covering relation to the end region of the upholstery sheet, a first lip formed by bending one side of the soft material inwardly, and a second lip formed by bending another side of the soft material inwardly. The first lip and the second lip at least partly cover a portion of the cover body where the fastener is to be positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshio TANAKA, Tyler MENCL, Nick MILLER
  • Publication number: 20130093233
    Abstract: There is provided a seat gap hiding structure in a vehicle seat where a cutout portion is formed on a seat cushion to arrange a seat belt therein, and a strip-shaped member is provided on a seat cover to correspond to the cutout portion at a part of the cutout portion, which is other than an arrangement position of the seat belt to cover a gap around the seat belt. One end portion of the strip-shaped member is fixed to the seat cover and the other end portion thereof is movably fixed to the seat cover using an elastic member. When the strip-shaped member is moved from an original position where the strip-shaped member covers the gap of the cutout portion, the elastic member generates an elastic force to return the strip-shaped member to the original position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Publication number: 20130088066
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a moving member that moves as one with a rail configured to move in a vehicle front-rear direction; a seat cushion that is coupled to the moving member through a lifter mechanism, is disposed above the rail, and is configured such that the top-bottom direction position of the seat cushion is capable of being adjusted by the lifter mechanism; and a gap concealing member that extends between a vehicle rear direction lower portion of the seat cushion and the rail to conceal a gap between the seat cushion and the rail. The gap concealing member is integrally formed from the top end portion to the bottom end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Yusuke Ohkawara, Hiroaki Inaba
  • Patent number: 8353561
    Abstract: In an operating lever structure for a vehicle seat in which an opening through which a seat belt extends is provided adjacent to a seat cushion lifting and lowering mechanism and a fixed end portion of the seat belt is connected to a seat cushion frame, a lifter lever includes a plate-like extending portion that is coupled to the lifting and lowering mechanism and a protrusion portion. The plate-like extending portion extends toward a front of the seat. The protrusion portion extends from the front end of the plate-like extending portion toward the outside in the seat width direction. The protrusion portion protrudes from an outer shield through a first exposing port of the outer shield, installed to a side portion of the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Yamazaki, Yoshitaka Tomonari
  • Publication number: 20120274116
    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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mark Palmer
  • Patent number: 8287048
    Abstract: A pinch guard for a vehicle seat (1) is provided that can be transferred from a normal use position into a step-in position. The vehicle seat (1) includes a rear foot, which is attached to a base (5) in the normal use position of the vehicle seat (1) and in the step-in position of the vehicle seat (1) the rear foot is arranged at a distance above the base (5). The vehicle seat (1) includes a rear lower pivoting axis firmly fixed to the base. The pinch guard includes at least one movable trim (17) with a pivoting axis (A), and the pivoting axis (A) of the movable trim (17) is arranged at a distance from the rear lower pivoting axis, fixed to the base of the vehicle seat (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: James Smith, Dirk Brassat
  • Publication number: 20120175935
    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: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20120133192
    Abstract: A soft interior trim component for an aircraft cabin, for example a headboard cover for a lie-flat seat, as a soft layer of foam (24, 124) the front of which is covered by a cover (40). The component is attached to a surface to be covered by attachment means (26, 28-32;126, 129) which enable the component to be easily removed for replacement and/or cleaning. The attachment may comprise a double-sided adhesive tape (26;126) and a series of fasteners (28-32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: MGR Foamtex Limited
    Inventor: Leslie James Simpson
  • Publication number: 20120019040
    Abstract: Decorative inserts to be attached to the arms and/or the legs of a base of a home or office chair to enhance the ornamentality of the arms and base and the visual appearance of the chair. Each chair arm has a recess formed therein within which to receive and retain an insert without the use of a fastener. Each leg of the chair base has a cavity formed therein within which to receive and retain an insert without the use of a fastener. The inserts are preferably detachable from the chair arms and chair base so as to be replaced by different decorative inserts so that the visual appearance of the chair can be customized on an as-needed basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: Marcelo Mezzera
  • Publication number: 20110316311
    Abstract: Described are seat back assemblies including a seat back with a recess and a bezel assembly having a bezel pivotally coupled to the recess and configured to substantially fit within the recess. Other examples may include a tray table assembly pivotally coupled to a lower section of the seat back. As examples, a protective covering may be positioned between the seat back and the bezel assembly, wherein the protective covering is a full shroud or a partial shroud. The protective covering may be coupled to the seat back via the coupling between the seat back and the bezel assembly without additional fasteners and may also include a shelf positioned below the bezel. Other examples may include an amenity tray positioned adjacent the bezel assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: RIK WESTERINK, JEFFREY P. WEGENKA
  • Publication number: 20110260508
    Abstract: A trim covering for a seat assembly of a vehicle, the trim cover having an inner and outer surface and a bonding tape applied to at least one of the inner or outer surfaces. The bonding tape is used to bond portions of the trim cover together, provide additional structural integrated to the trim cover and provide improved craftsmanship in closing-out certain areas of the trim cover. A method of performing a trim cover assembly for use in a seat assembly of a vehicle. The method includes applying heat and pressure over a predetermined time period to bonding tape arranged at a joint between at least two trim components, placing such bonding tape and trim components in a mold, and applying heat and pressure over a predetermined time period to such trim components having the bonding tape arranged at a joint, to form a one-piece trim assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Gregg Laframboise, David Thimm, Richard P. Doerer, Daniel J. Koester, Marie R. Howell, Sandra L. Smith, Jeffrey Suiter, Teresa A. Stapleton, Duane Potes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8011732
    Abstract: A tiltable anti-pinch vehicle seat assembly for an associated vehicle is provided. The seat assembly includes a seat and a tilt assembly is provided for supporting the seat and is disposed between the seat and a chassis of the associated vehicle. The tilt assembly is capable of moving the seat between a forward tilted position and a rearward latched position. The tilt assembly includes a first latching member. A second latching member is secured to the chassis of the associated vehicle for selectively engaging the latch and the latch and the striker cooperate to maintain the seat in the rearward latched position. A pinch guard housing is disposed about the first and second latching members. The housing substantially covers the first latching member, the second latching member, and a pinch zone defined between the first latching member and the second latching member when the tilt assembly is in the forward tilted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Derek Shane Lindsay
  • Patent number: 7997656
    Abstract: A holding structure of a vehicular seat for holding an electric wire member has a shield. The shield is made of a resin and has a main body that can be integrally formed with a bending portion and a cover portion arranged on an inner side of the main body. The holding structure further includes a locking portion capable of locking the cover portion on the inner side of the main body. The holding structure is capable of accommodating a wire member between the cover portion and the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yorihisa Inagaki, Tomoaki Nagata
  • Patent number: 7934769
    Abstract: A seat frame for a folding chair includes a U-shaped front frame, a linear rear frame and a seat cushion. The front frame has a first support surface between an upper surface and a lower surface of the front frame, the first support surface having a contour the same as that of the front frame. The rear frame has a second support surface between an upper surface and a lower surface of the rear frame, the second support surface having a contour the same as that of the rear frame. The seat cushion is clamped between the first and second support surfaces in a horizontal position. The peripheral edges of the seat cushion are thereby in tight contact with the first and second support surfaces. Brackets are then used to connect the front frame and the rear frame that surround the seat cushion therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Inventors: Mei Chuen Lin, Tzu Mei Wang
  • Patent number: 7901002
    Abstract: A clip for use in a cushion for a vehicle seat, wherein the cushion includes a cushioned pad and a trim cover , the cushioned pad having a recess portion and a wire embedded in the cushioned pad so as to be partially exposed to the recess portion from the cushioned pad, the trim cover having a portion, a longitudinal tensioning cord attached to the portion of the trim cover, a longitudinal bulged member provided along a longitudinal edge portion of the cord, and a laterally elongated through-hole formed in the cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Mashimo
  • Publication number: 20110012417
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has at least one vehicle seat (3) and a trim part (1) that extends in the vehicle transverse direction (FQ) behind the vehicle seat (3). A cross member (2) is arranged below and/or behind the trim part (1). The trim part (1) carries a protective element (11) on an end face (6) of the trim part (1) that faces the vehicle seat (3) to protect the trim part (1) from damage caused by contact with the vehicle seat (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Josip Vlahovic, Angelo Bronda, Grant Larson, Franziska Schumann, Shuichi Yamashita, Dominik Beierl
  • Patent number: 7857383
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide a soft cover for covering a seat having an inner frame. According to various embodiments, the soft cover includes a rear portion having a first side portion, a second side portion, an upper portion, and a flap portion with a medial portion. In various embodiments, the medial portion of the soft cover is configured to be recessed by engaging hooks that are attached to the inner surface of the medial portion to the inner frame of the seat and engaging fasteners along the edges of the flap portion with corresponding fasteners along the first and second side portions of the rear portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Thanh P. Nguyen, Tomonari Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7850247
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly having a backrest member and a seat bottom subassembly connected to the backrest member. The seat bottom subassembly has a cushion pan comprising a polymeric material, a cushion comprising a foam material supported on the cushion pan, and a trim layer comprising a fabric material disposed over the cushion. The cushion pan defines a plurality of integral trim attachment features. The trim layer is attached to the cushion pan through engagement with the trim attachment features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Marc Stauske, James R. Ministrelli, Keith R. Kwasny, Marc Poulin
  • Publication number: 20100289320
    Abstract: An office chair or office chair element, such as a backrest or seat, has a flat covering element, such as a fabric, cushioning or webbing element, secured to support elements, such as the arms of a support frame, and tensioned in between. The covering element is provided with a welt strip that, in the fitted state, is placed in an accommodating groove in the support element. The accommodating groove has two oppositely situated contact faces for the welt strip and one of the contact faces is provided with a projection that projects into the accommodating groove and extends in the longitudinal direction of the groove. The welt strip can be pressed into the accommodating groove, resiliently deforming the projection and/or the welt strip and the welt strip, in the fitted state, is positively locked and/or friction-locked in the groove with abutment against the contact faces, with the projection preventing the welt strip from escaping from the accommodating groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: BOCK 1 GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Hermann Bock
  • Publication number: 20100289319
    Abstract: An elongated edging is provided for use in a method of upholstering a chair element with a perimeter edge. The edging has a pair of sides and a top portion, with a slot defined between the sides for receiving the perimeter edge of the chair element. A flange extends outwardly from the outward face of the side of the edging and defines a recess between an upper side of the flange and the outward face of the side of the edging. A portion of upholstery is attached to the chair element using fasteners which are positioned in the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Michigan Tube Swagers & Fabricators, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry J. McElmurry
  • Publication number: 20100072804
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly having a backrest member and a seat bottom subassembly connected to the backrest member. The seat bottom subassembly has a cushion pan comprising a polymeric material, a cushion comprising a foam material supported on the cushion pan, and a trim layer comprising a fabric material disposed over the cushion. The cushion pan defines a plurality of integral trim attachment features. The trim layer is attached to the cushion pin through engagement with the trim attachment features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marc Stauske, James R. Ministrelli, Keith R. Kwasny, Marc Poulin
  • Patent number: 7523991
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat assembly having an exposed non-seating surface that includes one of a hook material and a loop material. The seat assembly also includes at least one removable storage element having a surface portion covered with the other of the hook material and the loop material. The removable storage element further removably attaches to a portion of the exposed non-passenger supporting surface in any one of a plurality of orientations and positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Scot Thompson, Raymond Devers, Anke Mazzei, Hideshi Saiki
  • Patent number: 7510245
    Abstract: A seat belt webbing enclosure for a vehicle seat having a seat back and a seat cushion. The enclosure includes a bracket attached to a frame of the seat back. A cover is coupled to the bracket and extends downwardly to the seat cushion to enclose a gap between the seat back the seat cushion. A seat belt web of the seat is substantially enclosed proximate the gap by the cover in cooperation with the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hidetsugu Okazaki, Kelly Michael Whalen
  • Patent number: 7455364
    Abstract: A leg frame of a chair having a decoration strip engaged therein includes the leg frame and the decoration strip. The leg frame includes a frame base, two curved ridges respectively disposed at both edges of the frame base, and an engaging groove formed between the frame base and the curved ridges. An inner lower side of each curved ridge is slanted to form an acute corner between the frame base and the curved ridge. The decoration strip corresponding to the engaging groove is fitted in the engaging groove. The decoration strip includes a bottom surface, two concave side surfaces, and two extended ribs respectively disposed between the bottom surface and the side surfaces. When the decoration strip is engaged with the leg frame, the ribs are respectively engaged with the acute corners and the side surfaces are respectively in contact with the curved ridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Inventors: Mei Chuen Lin, Tzu Mei Wang
  • Publication number: 20080252131
    Abstract: A seat back for a rear seat of an automotive vehicle includes a plate and a structural member attached with the plate. The structural member includes a trim channel provided thereon. The plate may include a trim channel provided thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Christoph Warnken, Andreas Thiex, Oliver Klier, Martin Stanner
  • Patent number: 7360842
    Abstract: A recliner cover assembly for enclosing a recliner mechanism of an automotive seat wherein the recliner mechanism includes an upper arm pivotally coupled to a lower arm. The recliner cover assembly comprises a housing defined by facing first and second molded members forming a cavity therebetween for encasing at least a portion of the recliner mechanism and a separate shingle cover slidably coupled between the first and second molded members wherein the shingle cover is coupled to the upper arm of the recliner mechanism for movement concomitantly therewith to continuously cover the recliner mechanism encased with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Rami Z. Sayed, Dino Nardicchio
  • Patent number: 7252341
    Abstract: In the case of a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, with a seat part and a backrest as seat components, of which at least one seat component has a structure (11) and at least one adapter (15) arranged on the structure (11), the adapter (15) bears extensively and with a form-fitting connection on the structure (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Recaro GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sascha Kircher, Matthias Dittler, Ulf Schlenker, Thomas Kaiser
  • Patent number: 7237846
    Abstract: A resin side cover for covering a side frame member of seat cushion frame of automotive seat, which includes outer and inner cover elements. First and second female engagement elements are respectively provided to forward and backward regions of the outer cover element, whereas first and second male engagement elements of resin material are respectively provided to a forward region of the side frame member and the inner cover element. The first female engagement element has an engagement portion defined therein at a predetermined position. The first male engagement element has a latch element defined therein at a point corresponding to such predetermined position, thus allowing the latch portion to be latchingly engageable with the engagement portion of the first female engagement element, while allowing the latch portion to be disengageable from that engagement portion by displacing the first female engagement element from the foregoing predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Arima
  • Patent number: 7159944
    Abstract: A backrest includes: a back support having a top end portion provided with a pivot shaft that has two opposite end portions; a backrest cushion having a rear wall formed with two threaded holes; a coupling cover having an open end, covering the pivot shaft, and having a back wall that is formed with two counter bores; two screw bolts extending respectively through the counter bores and engaging threadedly and respectively the threaded holes to permit abutment of the open end of the coupling cover against the rear wall of the backrest cushion; and two pivoting members, each having a pivot sleeve sleeved rotatably on a respective end portion of the pivot shaft, and a linkage extending from the pivot sleeve and coupled to a respective one of the screw bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Shin Yeh Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chuen-Jong Tseng