Including A Support Panel (e.g., Pan-type Seat, Etc.) Patents (Class 297/452.55)
  • Publication number: 20100133892
    Abstract: Contoured loveseat with an internal support frame forming an elongate rectilinear shape having a pair of matching long rigid parallel side panels, a pair of matching short rigid parallel side panels and a contoured top panel. The short side panels and the contoured top panels are covered by a uniformly thick cushion material. The short side panels join the top panel in a radiused fashion. A plurality of supplemental support cushions can be slidably retained within cutout portions in the side panels. The cutout portions are shaped to match the profile of the supplemental cushions. A preferred embodiment includes one side of the contoured top panel being sized for a male body and the opposite side of the contoured top panel being sized for a female body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventor: Anthony Vitale
  • Publication number: 20090179478
    Abstract: A seat cushion having a seat pad with a channel therein, the channel having a web with apertures for drainage of water away from the seat pad. The web provides a channel area on top of the web and a channel area below the web for egress of water. In one embodiment, the seat cushion is secured to a tree stand frame by straps and has a dual-section back portion that secures to a tree via a fastener at the top thereof. The dual-section back portion folds together to form a single planar construct and also folds to the seat pad portion, again to form a single planar package of collapsed ā€˜Zā€™ shape for transport or storage. In an alternate embodiment, the seat cushion, optionally with or without a back portion, is secured to a boat seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: George L. Frady
  • Publication number: 20090134686
    Abstract: A vehicle seat which comprises a seat cushion, a frame for the seat cushion, and a seat pan supported by the seat cushion frame. A surface of the seat pan is covered with a cushion material, and a cutout is formed in a front portion of the seat pan. The cutout is shaped such that a leg of an occupant sitting on the seat cushion can fit in the cutout while deforming the cushion material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Naito, Yuta Urushiyama, Koichi Suyama
  • Patent number: 7533941
    Abstract: Seating comfort is improved in a seat pad for vehicles includes a pad main body having a bottom dented upward to form a concave portion and having an insert arranged in the concave portion. The seat pad for vehicles 10 includes a cushion pad. The cushion pad includes a pad main body 20, an insert 30, and a rigid layer 40. The pad main body 20 has a concave portion 24. The insert 30 fits in the concave portion 24. The rigid layer 40 is bonded with the ceiling plane of the concave portion 24. The insert 30 has many protrusions 31 on its top face, and gaps between the protrusions 31 constitute a space 32. The space 32 communicates with a seating plane through holes 27 and communicates with the seating plane of the insert 30 through a through hole 33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Tomokazu Saitou, Kazushige Ebe
  • Patent number: 7503627
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a seat which is applicable to a vehicle seat, and the seat comprises a seat material whose rear end side is connected to a rear end side of a frame for a sitting portion by way of an elastic member, a plate-like member suppressing deformation of the seat material at a time of sitting, and a fabric-like member suppressing downward sinking of a front portion of the seat material by a tension acting in accordance with sitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiji Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7422289
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a frame panel having an improved reinforcing pattern. The frame panel includes a panel body having a front plate and a rear plate, which are integrally formed as a single body through a blowing process. The front plate has vertical groove patterns and horizontal groove patterns on the outside area except for the central area thereof, while the rear plate has vertical groove patterns and horizontal groove patterns on each of the central area and the outside area thereof, thus forming rectangular reinforcing groove patterns, with a diagonal groove pattern diagonally extending upwards from the lower end of a side of the rectangular reinforcing groove pattern provided on the outside area of the rear plate such that the diagonal groove pattern passes through the rectangular reinforcing groove pattern provided on the central area of the rear plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee-Deog Kim, Hyung-Jun Ahn, In-Se Yoon
  • Publication number: 20080174164
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat with a seat pan comprising a seat part and a supporting plate, said supporting plate being connected to the seat part via a guide for displacement in a longitudinal direction and comprising a front region forming the front edge of the seat pan. The supporting plate comprises a left and a right supporting wing. The left supporting wing forms the left front corner and the right supporting wing, the right front corner of the seat pan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Burckhard Becker, Wilfried Beneker
  • Publication number: 20080084105
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle, wherein the vehicle seat comprises padding and a profile or panel which comprises a padding channel for the fastening of the padding and/or of a cover, and wherein the padding channel comprises a tab which protrudes into the padding channel in such a manner that it increasingly narrows the latter in one section (V) in the longitudinal direction of the padding channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: FAURECIA AUTOSITZE GMBH
    Inventor: Meinhard Behrens
  • Patent number: 7290837
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back frame of a rectangular shape having a pair of side frames, upper and lower seat springs mounted between the side frames, and a flexible cushion plate in the form of a single plate attached to the seat springs. The cushion plate has a lower wide section supporting the vicinity of ilia (S) of a seated occupant (P), and a narrow middle section for reducing hold performance for the vicinity of a waist of the seated occupant (P). The cushion plate has an upper edge projecting slightly higher than a ninth dorsal vertebra (R) of the seated occupant (P).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Sugiyama, Yutaka Kizawa
  • 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: 7100990
    Abstract: A structure of seat back in vehicle seat, wherein a back board element is provided the said backward side of the seat back in such a manner as to normally provide a substantially flat plane rigid enough to withstand one load applied toward a backward side of the back board element, thereby to allow the back board element to be usable as a means for carrying load and cargo thereon, while being resiliently deformable in a backward direction of the vehicle seat by another load applied toward a seat occupant's back support side of said seat back. A plurality of crevices may be defined properly in one side of the back board element so as to effectively permit the back board element to be either in the substantially flat state or in a resiliently deformable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Kimura, Harutoshi Fujii
  • Patent number: 7083230
    Abstract: A hybrid composite-metal energy absorbing seat is described. According to one embodiment, an aircraft seat includes a seat base assembly and a seat back assembly. The seat base assembly includes multiple rigid metal seat base side frame elements joined by a lower seat pan, an energy absorbing element placed on the lower seat pan to deform and absorb downward energy in a crash, and a contoured seat pan whose sides extend past the seat base side frame elements and deform to absorb downward energy in a crash. The seat back assembly is attached to the seat base assembly and includes multiple rigid metal seat back side frame elements joined by a contoured composite seat back. The rigid metal seat back side frame elements absorb forward crash load energy by permanently deforming during a severe forward crash load. The contoured composite seat back provides design/aesthetic flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Adam Aircraft Industries
    Inventors: Matthew H. Kull, Dennis D. Olcott, Sharon M. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6942299
    Abstract: A vandalism resistant seating insert for mounting to a vehicle seat assembly having at least one vehicle seat frame having a ledge which defines a central opening. The seating insert has a rigid spine having a front surface and a periphery, a back plate having a rear surface and a periphery, and a cushion extending between the rigid spine and back plate. The back plate has a securing means for attaching to the ledge of the vehicle seat frame. A fabric covering is adhered to the rigid spine front surface and is wrapped over the periphery of the rigid spine and back plate, and is attached to the rear surface of the back plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Inventor: Louis Sardo
  • Patent number: 6896324
    Abstract: A hybrid composite-metal energy absorbing seat is described. According to one embodiment, an aircraft seat includes a seat base assembly and a seat back assembly. The seat base assembly includes multiple rigid metal seat base side frame elements joined by a lower seat pan, an energy absorbing element placed on the lower seat pan to deform and absorb downward energy in a crash, and a contoured seat pan whose sides extend past the seat base side frame elements and deform to absorb downward energy in a crash. The seat back assembly is attached to the seat base assembly and includes multiple rigid metal seat back side frame elements joined by a contoured composite seat back. The rigid metal seat back side frame elements absorb forward crash load energy by permanently deforming during a severe forward crash load. The contoured composite seat back provides design/aesthetic flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Adam Aircraft Industries
    Inventors: Matthew H. Kull, Dennis D. Olcott, Sharon M. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6830297
    Abstract: A suspension seat arrangement (1) comprising a lower frame (2) mountable to a seat mounting, an upper frame (3) connected to the lower frame (2) and movable with respect thereto, the upper frame (3) being arranged to mount a seat base (16), and a suspension arrangement (12) suspending the upper frame (3) with respect to the lower frame (2), the upper frame (3) and lower frame (2) arrangement being such that the upper frame (3) is able to move downwardly relative to the lower frame (2) so that the upper frame (3) and lower frame (2) become nested together one within the other. In another embodiment a suspension seat arrangement comprising a suspension adjustment mechanism for adjusting the tension of the suspension. In a further embodiment a suspension seat arrangement comprising a cover arrangement to encapsulate the suspension arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: G and J Lewis Enterprises PTY LTD
    Inventor: Lewis Gordon
  • Patent number: 6736454
    Abstract: A seat insert for mounting to a fixed seat, the insert having a rigid spine, having a periphery, a back surface, a front surface which is laminated with a soft fabric, and has securing device on the back surface disposed about the periphery for allowing the back surface to be mounted to the fixed seat. A cushion is attached to the back surface of the spine such that the cushion extends between the back surface of the spine and the fixed seat when the back surface is mounted to the fixed seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Inventor: Louis Sardo
  • Patent number: 6695411
    Abstract: The invention disclosed a folding chair made up by metal tubes whose chair plate apparatus is formed by connecting between the frame member and the plate member by sleeves. The chair plate apparatus consists of the frame member and the plate member; on each side of the plate member is respectively provided with a sleeving; the frame member is provided with a fundamental part, for being leaned against the plate member; and the two side parts are inserted into the each sleeving. The folding chair in this invention is elastic and comfort to sit, much more materials are saved and therefore the cost is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Xiamen New-Tech Jcc Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Luhao Leng, Qiang Li
  • Patent number: 6663178
    Abstract: A seat pan for an automobile vehicle includes a frame carrying a suspension lattice having two sections separated by a vertical median plane dividing the seat into right and left hand sides. A motor and crankshaft combination is connected to each section of the lattice for generating in each section of the lattice a cyclic movement including, in the upper portion of its travel, a rearward movement of translation. The cyclic movements of the sections occur with an angular phase difference therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile
    Inventors: FranƧois Fourrey, Laurent Liaigre
  • Publication number: 20030132658
    Abstract: A suspension seat (1) comprising a lower frame (2) mountable to a seat mounting, an upper frame (3) connected to the lower frame (2) and movable with respect thereto, the upper frame (3) being arranged to mount a seat base (16), and a suspension arrangement (12) suspending the upper frame (3) with respect to the lower frame (2), the upper frame (3) and lower frame (2) arrangement being such that the upper frame (3) and lower frame (2) arrangement being such that the upper frame (3) is able to move downwardly relative to the lower frame (2) so that the upper frame (3) and lower frame (2) become nested together one within the other. In a another embodiment a suspension seat arrangement comprising a suspension adjustment mechanism for adjusting the tension of the suspension. In a further embodiment a suspension seat arrangement comprising a cover arrangement to encapsulate the suspension arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: Lewis Gordon
  • Patent number: 6568761
    Abstract: A backrest of a motor vehicle seat has a sheet metal shell having several cutouts and an upholstery member arranged on the sheet metal shell. The upholstery member has securing elements for attaching the upholstery member to the sheet metal shell. Each securing element has a fastening leg secured in one of the cutouts of the sheet metal shell. Each one of the securing elements has a hook portion positioned opposite the fastening leg and engaging the upholstery member. An upholstery cover covers the upholstery member and has connectors each connected to one of the securing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignees: Benteler AG, ContiTech Formpolster, dumo nv
    Inventors: Joachim Perske, Jens Bendler, Andreas Stosch, Andreas Plass, Frans Stevens
  • Publication number: 20030094842
    Abstract: A passenger seat with low profile seat back recline locking assembly, including a recline unit for controlling movement of the seat back and locking the seat back in a desired recline position. A hydraulic cylinder assembly is pivotally-mounted by a first end thereof to a section assembly module of the seat and by an opposite second end thereof to the seat back unit. The cylinder assembly has a longitudinally-extending axis extending in alignment with the longitudinally-extending, generally vertical plane of the seat back. An actuator is positioned astride and operatively connected to the fluid cylinder adjacent one or the other of the first and second ends thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventor: John Williamson
  • Patent number: 6520541
    Abstract: A vehicle safety seat system for protecting an occupant of the vehicle safety seat from injury. The safety seat system includes a ramped metal seat bottom having a ramp angle that prevents sub-marining of an occupant during a frontal impact. A first foam layer is disposed immediately over the ramped metal seat bottom and supported by the ramped metal seat bottom. The first foam layer has a rate sensitive compression characteristic. A second foam layer is disposed over the first foam layer. The second foam layer imparts comfort to the occupant during operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventor: Alan E. Cantor
  • Patent number: 6439666
    Abstract: A structure of the so-called “pan frame” of seat cushion for use with a vehicle seat, which includes a primary reinforcing pattern press formed therein. The primary reinforcing pattern has a flat bottom region defined on its top and protrudes from the bottom wall of the seat-cushion pan frame. The primary reinforcing pattern further communicates with the securing areas where the frame is to be secured to a floor side of the vehicle. Hence, most of a load applied to the pan frame is dispersed via such pattern toward the securing areas, while being absorbed thereby. An auxiliary reinforcing pattern is press formed in the primary reinforcing pattern such as to surround each of the securing areas, thereby blocking further transmission of the load thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Tachi-S, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimitzu Kimura, Masami Muraishi
  • Patent number: 6412874
    Abstract: A component of a motor vehicle seat includes an under spring structure, a panel having a support surface for supporting a cushion padding of the motor vehicle seat thereon, a plurality of clasps on the panel attaching the panel onto the under spring structure to support the panel thereon, at least one first socket on the panel for connection to at least one seat subassembly required for a desired seat function at least one second socket on the panel for connection to an on-board network of the motor vehicle, and at least one conductor imbedded into the panel and extending between and interconnecting the first and second sockets. The panel is preferably made of a suitable synthetic moldable material ouch that the first and second sockets can be integrally famed with or integrated into the panel and the conductor molded into the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Sitztechnik GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: RenƩ Mayer
  • Patent number: 6409269
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly having a suspension panel for the seat pad that is formed of resin impregnated compressed fibrous bat. The suspension panel is formed with corrugations and other contours to enable the suspension panel to flex in a predetermined manner to provide suspension to a seat pad. The suspension panel, when used in the seat back can also form the rear trim panel of the seat back thus reducing the number of components in the seat back as the suspension panel serves multiple functions. The fibrous panel can be reclaimed after the useful life of the seat and manufactured into a new panel thereby reducing the quantity of seat components that are scrapped after use. In addition, recycled fibers can be used originally thereby increasing the amount of recycled content in the seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Silvio Aebischer, Thomas J. Dellinger, Eric Burmeister, Neil J. Bush
  • Patent number: 6409267
    Abstract: A rigid molded shroud is provided to cover the underside of the seat of a chair. The shroud has a generally flat bottom panel and a lip projecting upwardly from the periphery of the panel. The lip may include cutouts for accommodating the legs of the chair when the shroud is assembled to the chair. Connecting members on the shroud engage corresponding connecting members on the seat to enable the shroud to be easily connected to and removed from the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph J. Pietrzak
  • Patent number: 6382728
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the folding chair of the present invention, a seat back support integrally formed with the front legs of the folding chair is bent forward at a particular angle, at a particular height above the seating surface, to provide comfortable lower back support for a person sitting on the seat, while maintaining stability. According to another aspect of the invention, a cushion for use on the seat back of the chair is disclosed. The cushion has a particular shape with portions that are intended to interlock with a correspondingly shaped apertures in the seat back of the chair. The cushions may be removed for cleaning or replacement with little trouble. In another aspect, the seating surface of the folding chair is contoured with a gentle s-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Meco Corporation
    Inventor: Steven A. Buono
  • Publication number: 20020043871
    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: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: Formway Furniture Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan William Prince, Mark Rundle Pennington
  • Publication number: 20020038971
    Abstract: The present invention provides a construction of a seat cushion formed by mounting a cushion pad on a cushion frame formed into a rectangular shape and by covering the cushion pad with a skin, wherein a recess is provided at the rear end of the cushion frame, and on the other hand, an extension extending downward is integrally formed at the rear end of the cushion pad, by which the extension is fitted in the recess in the cushion frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20020038970
    Abstract: The invention disclosed a folding chair made up by metal tubes whose chair plate apparatus is formed by connecting between the frame member and the plate member by sleeves. The chair plate apparatus consists of the frame member and the plate member; on each side of the plate member is respectively provided with a sleeving; the frame member is provided with a fundamental part, for being leaned against the plate member; and the two side parts are inserted into the each sleeving. The folding chair in this invention is elastic and comfort to sit, much more materials are saved and therefore the cost is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: XIAMEN NEW-TEC JCC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Luhao Leng, Qiang Li
  • Patent number: 6286903
    Abstract: A seat cushion, in particular for folding automobile vehicle seat, and its method of manufacture, the cushion having a lower face adapted to be in contact with a supporting frame and covered with a protective film of expanded synthetic plastic material that is resistant to wear and adheres to the expanded synthetic plastic material of the cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Sofitec
    Inventor: Georges Proux
  • Patent number: 6279998
    Abstract: A chair comprises a seat; a support for the seat; and, a plurality of biasing members mounted between the support and the seat, the biasing members, in combination, have a compressive strength sufficiently high to essentially resist static movement of a person while seated in the chair and sufficiently low to cushion dynamic loads applied to the seat when a person sits down quickly in the chair. Alternately the chair comprises a plurality of connecting members extending between the seat and the support, each connecting member having at least one first detent member to lockingly connecting the seat to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Teknion Furniture Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Zooey Chu, Harald Wurl, Hermann Bock
  • Publication number: 20010005097
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising a seat portion, a seat pan integrated in the seat portion and a viscous mass arranged within the seat pan, wherein the viscous mass is activable to form a ramp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Applicant: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Heilig, Thomas Herpich
  • Patent number: 6231125
    Abstract: A seat is provided which comprises a generally quadrilateral seat frame and a seat cushion formed from a resilient sheet and provided bridging between lateral sides of, and inside, the seat frame. A cushion member is provided opposite to the resilient sheet and bridging between lateral sides of, and inside, the seat frame. The cushion member is deflectable, under the weight of a sitting person, along with the resilient sheet which mainly receives the weight of the sitting person on the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignees: TS Tech Co., Ltd., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Maeda, Isao Kawashima, Tomomi Shoji, Tsutomu Matsuzaki, Naohiro Takahashi, Masashi Ishii, Tsutomu Ao
  • Patent number: 6224160
    Abstract: A chair is provided which includes an inner member for supporting the body of a person and an outer member for supporting the right and left edges of the inner member. The inner member is made of a synthetic resin and formed into a plate so that the inner member is elastically deformed under the weight of the person. The inner member is attached to the outer member with its side portions supported. Thus, behind the inner member is a space for allowing the inner member to be deformed. In order to be applied to the seat of a chair, preferably, the outer member includes a metal base and a pair of auxiliary supporting elements to be fitted on the metal base. The inner member and the auxiliary supporting elements are fixed to each other in a non-releasable manner by an engaging assembly including engagement nails and engagement holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Itoki Crebio Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takeuchi, Shigenori Takehara, Koji Katayama
  • Patent number: 6213557
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly having a suspension panel for the seat pad that is formed of resin impregnated compressed fibrous bat. The suspension panel is formed with corrugations and other contours to enable the suspension panel to flex in a predetermined manner to provide suspension to a seat pad. The suspension panel, when used in the seat back can also form the rear trim panel of the seat back thus reducing the number of components in the seat back as the suspension panel serves multiple functions. The fibrous panel can be reclaimed after the useful life of the seat and manufactured into a new panel thereby reducing the quantity of seat components that are scrapped after use. In addition, recycled fibers can be used originally thereby increasing the amount of recycled content in the seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Silvio Aebischer, Thomas J. Dellinger, Eric Burmeister, Neil J. Bush
  • Patent number: 6199252
    Abstract: A method of installing a front seat assembly in a vehicle interior is disclosed. The front seat assembly has first and second seats which are fastened together prior to installation of the front seat assembly in the vehicle. The front seat assembly is positioned in the vehicle as a single unit and then fastened to the vehicle. A method of installing a rear seat assembly is also disclosed. The rear seat assembly includes a seat back and a package tray pivotally attached to the seat back. Prior to installation, the package tray is positioned so that the rear seat assembly can be inserted through a door opening of the vehicle. The rear seat assembly is inserted through the door opening and the package tray is positioned to an extended position from the seat back and fastened to the vehicle. The seat back is also fastened to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Masters, Andrew J. Massara, Philip W. Leistra, III, Gregory Allison
  • Patent number: 6168239
    Abstract: A plastic contoured seat back includes an inner and an outer shell affixed together. The inner shell includes a three dimensionally curved front surface and a two dimensionally curved back surface. The inner shell may include an internal rib adjacent the top of the shell that is shaped differently from the top edge of the inner shell. The internal rib is adapted to allow the inner shell to be cut adjacent the internal rib so that the inner shell can be varied in shape. The shell may also include indentations on the back side of the shell adjacent the corners of the inner shell. The indentations are dimensioned to receive overlapping fabric that is pulled around the corners such that the fabric on the back of the shell adjacent the corners does not project outwardly more than the fabric elsewhere, despite the over lapping of the fabric at the corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Irwin Seating Company
    Inventors: John P. Conner, Steven E. Finney, Richard A. Thalen, Robert L. Russell, Tim Coffield