Spring Integral With Frame Of Bottom Or Back Patents (Class 297/452.54)
  • Patent number: 11390194
    Abstract: A child safety seat comprising a seat body and first and second side wings depending from the seat body, the first and second side wings each comprising an outwardly facing exterior surface, an impact energy absorbing device depending from at least a part of the exterior surface of the first and second side wings, the impact energy absorbing device comprising a hollow and/or gas, liquid, gel or other energy absorbing material filled shell of deformable material formed by blow moulding, comprising an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly or occupant facing surface, and a plurality of energy absorbing elements in the form of recesses extending into the shell from the inwardly facing surface toward the outwardly facing surface: wherein the impact absorbing system is adapted to absorb impact through a combination of the shell plastically or elastically deforming, cushioning, rupturing, deflating or bursting, and the plurality of energy absorbing elements cooperatively plastically or elastically deforming, cush
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: BRITAX CHILDCARE PTY LTD.
    Inventor: Wieslaw Maciejczyk
  • Patent number: 10023087
    Abstract: A vehicle seat (10) comprising a seat cushion frame (72) that configures a seat cushion (70); a seat back frame (14) that configures a seat back (12), the seat back frame (14) being formed in a panel shape and having, on a lower portion thereof on both sides in a seat width direction, coupling portions (46) that are coupled to the seat cushion frame (72); fixing portions (20) that are formed in an upper portion of the seat back frame (14) and fix a headrest (60); and load transmitting portions (40) that are disposed in the seat back frame (14), are each formed in a substantially L-shape opening toward the seat rear side and outward in the seat width direction, and couple together the fixing portions (20) and the coupling portions (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tamura, Akira Kaneko, Takuya Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9278634
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat comprises a seat component and a backrest. The backrest has a shell structure which is provided on an occupant side with an upholstered element. The shell structure has at least one depression for accommodating the upholstered element. The upholstered element is thickened at the location of the at least one depression. The shell structure may have a central part and side wings arranged in an elastically resilient manner on the central part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Ian Mathews, David Cooke, Marc Van-Soolingen, Robin Ndagi-Jimana, Wolfgang Pellenz
  • Patent number: 9185985
    Abstract: A seat has a first ischial region, a second ischial region, a tailbone region and a thigh transitional region, each having at least one slot. Each slot generally opens outward, away from a center of the seat. Each slot may have an elongated central portion and two distal portions extending from the central portion. The central portion and distal portions may be substantially linear and may have a specific configuration relative to each other to provide desired support characteristics. The slots may allow flexing and cantilevering of portions of the seat to dynamically contour the seat based on the weight of the user. Multiple grooves may be included at the front of the seat to facilitate curling of the front of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Teresa A. Bellingar, Larry A. Wilkerson, Peter J. Beyer
  • Patent number: 8985695
    Abstract: A backrest is provided, whereby a frame-shaped base structure of which is made of a dimensionally stable plastic, The base structure being formed from beams. The frame-shaped base structure includes at least one functional element between the beams, and the at least one functional element is made only of a plastic and/or as a plastic-coated insert. Injection molding is proposed as a production method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sitech Sitztechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Baumgarten
  • Patent number: 8876215
    Abstract: A vehicle seat frame structure includes a frame main body formed in a frame-shape, and a wire that extends between two frame peripheral portions that make up the frame main body, end portions of the wire being integrally joined to the two frame peripheral portions. At each of the end portions of the wire, a portion that jut outs beyond the corresponding frame peripheral portion is formed as a curved portion that is curved in a direction wrapping around an outer peripheral surface of the frame peripheral portion. At least one of the curved portions of the wire has a curvature that is more gradual than a curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the frame peripheral portion to which the curved portion is joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kousuke Sei, Keisuke Yamamoto, Yukinori Sugiura, Takanori Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8540318
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention relates to a vehicle seat assembly comprising a seat frame made of structural foam and having a main body portion having a forward portion and a rearward portion, and a wire attachment bracket having a front attachment tab, a rear attachment tab, and a connecting portion extending between the front and rear attachment tabs. The front attachment tab can be securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the forward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, and the rear attachment tab can be securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the rearward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan. In at least one embodiment, the vehicle seat assembly further comprises a cushion supported on the frame, with the cushion being softer than the seat frame, and a trim material disposed over the cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Allyn Folkert, William Barr, Ashford A. Galbreath, Asad S. Ali
  • Patent number: 8136884
    Abstract: A seating product comprising a seat deck assembly secured at opposite ends to a frame. The seat deck assembly comprises a seat deck. A textile border is disposed between at least one end of the seat deck assembly and the frame. The textile border is attached to the frame, thereby flexibly coupling the seat deck assembly thereto. Cushions, padding or an upholstered covering can complete embodiments of the seating product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: L & P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Larry I. Bullard, William J. Distler
  • Patent number: 7806476
    Abstract: A seat, especially an airplane or vehicle seat, has a seat part placed on the stand-type seat structure (12) in relation to a base and provided with a bearing part (18) on its front side. The bearing part (18) is embodied in a flexible manner and can move in the direction of the seat structure (12) when a predefined seating load is exerted on it. When the load is discharged, it can move back into its initial position in the opposite direction from the seat structure (12). This arrangement creates a seat whose front part is maintained in a flexible manner such that the front area of the seat part yields according to the seating load exerted by the seat user. The pressure forces are limited to the lower side of the upper thighs of the seat user. As a result, the cross-sections of the veins in that region are not reduced, but are maintained such that the circulation of the blood is not impeded, significantly reducing the risk of thrombosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Recaro Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Forgatsch, Hartmut Schürg, Sven Achilles
  • Patent number: 7794021
    Abstract: The present invention can include a seat frame including a claw member, a spring member having a first end and a second end both connected to the frame, wherein the first end is retainable in the claw member, also the first end includes a first and second support member positioned on either side of the claw member, the first and second support member having a height that is equal to or greater than a height of the claw member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Sahashi
  • Patent number: 7137669
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat cushion which has a frame structure and a cushion member combined with the frame structure, the frame structure including a pair of spaced apart side frame members, a front frame member fixed to forward end portions of the side frame members, a connecting shaft extending between rearward end portions of the side frame members and interconnecting the rearward end portions of the side frame members, a plurality of zigzag springs stretched between the front frame member and the connecting shaft, the cushion member being laid on the zigzag springs, and retainers mounted on the connecting shaft, the zigzag springs being engaged at one terminals thereof with the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Nagayama
  • Patent number: 7063388
    Abstract: A spring chair (cushion) structure in which the spring chair (cushion) structure, elastic body, flexile rods have sufficient pliancy and, furthermore, are slanted at equal intervals apart such that they conjoin two frame members into a single structural entity. When sitting in the spring chair (cushion) structure, body weight is utilized to directly cause the torsional resiliency of the elastic body to produce an appropriate spring-loaded and buffered effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Inventor: Chih-Yung Chen
  • Patent number: 6994399
    Abstract: A seat suspension arrangement intended to provide greater protection for occupants of a vehicle seat in the event of a rearward collision in a motor vehicle, comprises a platform element intended to be supported in the frame of the back rest of a vehicle seat in order to provide support for the seat upholstery, the platform element comprising side rails (1) between which are coupled sinuous wire springs (3) and a plurality of link means (6, 300, 301, 302) by means of which the platform element may be suspended in the frame of a vehicle seat. At least some of the link means (300, 301, 302) are designed to collapse under abnormal load such as would occur in a vehicle collision from the rear, to allow the platform element to move relatively to the seat frame and thus to provide protection for the seat occupant against rearward impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: L&P Swiss Holding Company
    Inventors: Olivier Freddy Van-Thournout, Filip Alida Eggermont, Stefaan Deceuninck
  • Patent number: 6929324
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat, a central support member typically consisting of wire mesh or grid and supports most of the load of the vehicle occupant via spring members, and undergoes a relatively large displacement when the occupant is seated in the seat. Thus, by detecting the displacements of various parts of the central support member, preferably peripheral parts thereof, the magnitude of the total load and distribution of the load can be evaluated both reliably and accurately. Additionally, displacement sensors for measuring such large displacements are relatively inexpensive and easy to handle. Also, such sensors would not interfere with the existing seat designs, and would not be adversely affected by the equipment of the seat such as seat heaters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignees: NHK Spring Co., Ltd., The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Enomoto, Takashi Takeshita, Takuya Nishimoto, Naobumi Kuboki, Katsutoshi Sasaki, Norio Kawashima, Hiroaki Nishiguma, Atsuo Matsumoto, Shinichi Horibata, Ko Masuda, Yuji Niikura, Hiroshi Matsunaga, Yuji Tokiwa
  • Patent number: 6908159
    Abstract: A seat portion (14) for a seat (10) wherein the seat portion (14) includes a panel having a rear portion to support the occupant. The rear portion has a longitudinal centerline and incorporates two zones (162) on either side of the longitudinal centerline. Each of the zones has a first pattern of weakeners arranged in a series of spaced sinuous lines. Furthermore, a substantial portion of the panel, apart from the zones (162) may also be provided with a pattern of weakeners arranged in a series of spaced sinuous lines (163), interrupted by the zones (162).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Formway Furniture Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan William Prince, Mark Rundle Pennington
  • Patent number: 6854804
    Abstract: A seat cushion extends across left and right areas that are located beneath the locations of the left and right ischial tuberosities of a seated person. A support structure beneath the cushion transmits a weight load from the cushion to the seat frame. The support structure has portions that surround the left and right ischial areas to provide the cushion with underlying, load bearing support at the peripheral boundaries of the ischial areas, and is free of load bearing portions located within or beneath the ischial areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Ficosa North America
    Inventors: Antonio Cruz Fernandes de Pinho, Paulo Alexandre Alves Vinha
  • Patent number: 6626497
    Abstract: The backrest of a chair comprises an inner low rigidity flexible back-receiving portion and an outer high-rigidity side frame spaced from the back-receiving portion via a slit. The backrest is integrally molded by synthetic resin, thereby shortening manufacturing process and reducing its cost. Comfort of a sitting person is also attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Okamura Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Nagamitsu, Hiroshi Masunaga
  • Patent number: 6616239
    Abstract: A monolithic rail clip, formed from a single piece of material, comprises a plurality of integrated hooks spaced along an angled rail body for use in constructing a seat base. A pair of the rail clips are attached to a pair of opposing members of a frame of the seat base so that the integrated hooks form opposing pairs. A plurality of springs are attached to the hook pairs and stretch between the opposing members to define a resilient structure for supporting a furniture seat. Each rail clip is constructed by forming a plurality of tabs extending from one longitudinal edge of the rail body and bending the tabs to form the plurality of hooks. The integral construction of the hooks reduces the assembly time of each rail and seat base. The monolithic construction of the rail clip provides additional structural rigidity to the seat base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Edmond P. Guillot
  • Patent number: 6565153
    Abstract: An upper back support in a vehicle seat, with the vehicle seat having a base assembly including a seat support. The seat member is supported on the base assembly and a back frame is pivoted to the base assembly for movement. A back shell is connected to the back frame and an upper back support is coupled to the back shell. The upper back support comprises a panel having a lower portion and an upper portion, with the lower portion flexibly coupled to the back shell of the vehicle seat. A resilient member is coupled to the panel proximate the upper portion and to the back shell of the vehicle seat. An additional resilient member can be coupled to the panel proximate the upper portion and to the back shell of the vehicle seat in a spaced apart relationship to the other resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Hensel, Jeffery A. DeBoer
  • Patent number: 6499807
    Abstract: A seat back frame assembly of the invention has side frame members (17, 17), an upper frame member (18), a lower frame member (19) and zigzag spring (15) mounted between the side frame members (17, 17). A side portion (27) of the lower frame member has a main connection portion (28) and a sub-connection portion (29), both of which are fixed to the side frame member (17). The main connection portion (28) is positioned below the zigzag spring (15). The sub-connection portion (29) is inclined toward a front upper side so that the sub-connection portion and the zigzag spring are at least partly overlapped with each other in a front-and-back direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Ts Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuji Kaneda, Kanenori Sato, Misao Omori
  • Publication number: 20020153759
    Abstract: A monolithic rail clip, formed from a single piece of material, comprising a plurality of integrated hooks spaced along an angled rail body for use in constructing a seat base. A pair of the rail clips are attached to a pair of opposing members of a frame of the seat base so that the integrated hooks form opposing pairs. A plurality of springs are attached to the hook pairs and stretch between the opposing members to define a resilient structure for supporting a furniture seat. Each rail clip is constructed by forming a plurality of tabs extending from one longitudinal edge the rail body and bending the tabs to form the plurality of hooks. The integral construction of the hooks reduces the assembly time of each rail and seat base. The monolithic construction of the rail clip provides additional structural rigidity to the seat base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Edmond P. Guillot