Encapsulated Panel Patents (Class 297/452.57)
  • Patent number: 11279272
    Abstract: Provided is vehicle seat with a seat cushion and a seat back, the vehicle seat comprising: a pair of cushion side frames; a duct extending from the seat cushion along a rear side of a cushion frame toward the seat back and connecting an air passage and a blower, the air passage being formed in at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back; and a side frame cover configured to cover at least part of the cushion side frame. The side frame cover includes a duct cover portion configured to cover part of the duct at the rear side of the cushion frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Hoshi, Kazuki Kobayashi, Tomohisa Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10457175
    Abstract: A seat structure is configured to support an occupant. The seat structure includes a suspension. A seat cushion is arranged adjacent to the suspension. The seat cushion defines a plurality of variable effective property regions. At least one of the plurality of variable effective property regions includes a regular periodic lattice structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Steven C. Lang, Nilesh D. Mankame, Brennon L. White, Daniel J. Ridgeway
  • Patent number: 8998338
    Abstract: A chair component assembly includes a support component adapted to support a portion of a seated user and a cover having a plurality of sides that cooperate to form an interior space that receives the support component herein, wherein the cover includes a first portion comprising a thermoplastic material, and a second portion comprising a non-thermoplastic material, wherein the first portion and the second portion are attached to one another to each form an outer aesthetic surface of the cover about the support component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Vander Veen, Gordon J. Peterson, Bruce M. Smith
  • Patent number: 8973990
    Abstract: A chair component that includes a first chair member that includes a forwardly facing front surface and a rearwardly facing rear surface that define a first thickness therebetween, and at least one raised portion extending rearwardly from the rear surface, wherein the front surface and the at least one raised portion define a second thickness therebetween that is greater than the first thickness, and wherein a majority of the first chair member comprises the first thickness; a cover member wrapped about at least a portion of the first chair member; and a drawstring operably coupled with the cover member to draw the cover member about the at least a portion of the first chair member, wherein the drawstring is secured to the first chair member by at least one fastener that is received within the raised portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Todd D. Krupiczewicz, Jeffrey A. Hall, Gordon J. Peterson, Dale M. Groendal
  • Patent number: 8789883
    Abstract: A cushion structure of a vehicle seat is provided. The cushion structure includes a cushion pad formed of expanded resin and configuring a cushion part of the vehicle seat, the cushion pad being provided with a groove part, and a reinforcing sheet material which is harder than the cushion pad and is provided integrally with an upright wall face of the groove part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiro Itou, Yasuhiko Niimi
  • Patent number: 8033609
    Abstract: A head restraint assembly for use with a vehicle seat, the head restraint assembly having a head restraint armature that is adapted to be attached to a seat back, including two spaced apart support posts, a cushion surrounding the head restraint armature and a strap that is affixed to the head restraint armature, the strap extending between the two spaced apart support posts. The strap is surrounded by the cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Zbigniew J. Orzelski
  • Patent number: 7740322
    Abstract: A school bus seat comprises a pin having a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon and an octagon. First and second brackets include an aperture selected correspondingly from the group consisting of a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon and an octagon. First and second supports include an aperture selected correspondingly from the group consisting of a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon and an octagon. The apertures in the brackets and supports are formed in a fiber reinforced polymer such that the apertures are devoid of knit lines. The pins reside in the apertures of the supports and brackets inhibiting rotation of the brackets with respect to the supports. A seat back is secured to the brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventor: Selwyn Arthur Burch
  • Patent number: 7712837
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a padding for a cushion (1), such as a cushion for a seat, comprising foam material (100), with modified resilience provided by recesses (101), in at least one section of the cushion, the size and/or density of the recesses being different in adjacent sections providing a varying softness or collapsibility in the foam material (100) in one surface direction of the cushion, wherein the recesses (101) may be non-transient and a frame (410) may be completely or partly embedded in the foam. The invention also concerns a seat cushion or furniture comprising such padding and the method for producing such padding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Ekornes ASA
    Inventor: Arve Ekornes
  • Patent number: 7425040
    Abstract: An outdoor vehicle seat is formed by placing a cushioning material on a bottom plate, and covering them with a surface skin, and fixing a surface skin end portion onto the bottom plate. Further, a highly water absorbing, highly moisture absorbing, and highly expanding member is arranged between the surface skin end portion and the bottom plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Honma
  • Patent number: 7270378
    Abstract: A suspension seat assembly for an office chair is provided which has a support frame and a suspension fabric connected about its periphery to the frame. The fabric is first laid across the frame and then the peripheral edges of the suspension fabric are secured in place on the frame by over-molded trim. The suspension fabric may also be formed as a multi-layer composite comprising an aesthetic upper layer, a stretchable suspension layer and an optional cushion layer therebetween. The suspension layer is a fabric-type material which is preferably air permeable and resilient to support the weight of a chair occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Wilkerson, Mark G. Tomandl, Keith Page, Gardner Klassen
  • 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: 7108330
    Abstract: There is provided a portable, folding chair with an enhanced seat and backrest. The seat includes a suspension system that is capable of providing an enhanced range of motion in seating directions. The backrest provides enhanced support through an enlarged support surface and improved disposition of the support surface relative to the chair frame. The seat and backrest can be used together on the same chair or independently. There is also provided an alternate seat employing a suspension system that is capable of providing an enhanced range of motion in seating directions and that has a low profile to be used in situations where storage space is a significant consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Greenwich Industries, L.P.
    Inventors: Ned W. Mizelle, Shay Shalmon
  • Patent number: 6983997
    Abstract: A suspension seat assembly for an office chair is provided which has a support frame and a suspension fabric connected about its periphery to the frame. The fabric is first laid across the frame and then the peripheral edges of the suspension fabric are secured in place on the frame by over-molded trim. The suspension fabric may also be formed as a multi-layer composite comprising an aesthetic upper layer, a stretchable suspension layer and an optional cushion layer therebetween. The suspension layer is a fabric-type material which is preferably air permeable and resilient to support the weight of a chair occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Wilkerson, Mark G. Tomandl, Keith Page, Gardner Klassen
  • Patent number: 6929322
    Abstract: A buffering member is connected between a cushion member and an air discharge duct of a blower unit to damp vibrations of the blower unit and thus to limit conduction of the vibrations from the blower unit to the cushion member. Resilient damper members are held between a connector bracket and a cover member and hold seat spring members, so that the blower unit is supported by the seat spring member. The connector bracket includes protrusions, which protrude toward the cushion member and hold the seat spring members through the resilient damper members. The cushion member includes recesses, which receive the protrusions of the connector bracket in such a manner that the protrusions are spaced from the cushion member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Aoki, Toshifumi Kamiya
  • Patent number: 6755477
    Abstract: A therapeutic sling seat comprising a flexible material which is non-uniform in stiffness providing maximum contact surface area with the body of a person seated in the seat by spreading the forces away from high pressure areas using multiaxis tension forces. The seat material in tension adapts to the contour of the posterior of the seated person. By controlling the pressures on the ischial tuberosities, physical problems such as ulcers can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventor: William W. Chow
  • Patent number: 6672671
    Abstract: A padding system for use in a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a seat providing a pad comprising foam and having a border area. The system may also include at least one reinforcing section embedded in the border area of the foam. A method of manufacturing a padding element for use in a vehicle seat is also disclosed. The seat may include a reinforcement, a carrier at least partially surrounding the reinforcement, and a foam at least partially surrounding the carrier. The method may include foaming the reinforcement in a foaming mold. The method may also include clamping the reinforcement to at least one fastening bracket in the foaming mold. A mold for manufacturing a padding element for use in a vehicle is also disclosed. The mold may include a foaming mold comprising a sidewall and a bottom. The mold may also include at least one clamp in the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Olaf Stoschek
  • Patent number: 6474736
    Abstract: A child's play swing has a seat with a base panel defining a seating surface, side panels joined to the base panel along its side edges, and a back panel joined to the base panel along its back edge, together defining a swing volume for receiving and supporting a child during swinging. The base panel defines a pocket, and the swing includes a seating surface stiffener sized for removable placement within the pocket. In a first condition, with the seating surface stiffener removed from the pocket, the seat has are a relatively more pliable seating surface that forms about the body surface of a child placed within the swing volume, as suited for an infant unable to sit up on its own. In a second condition, with the seating surface stiffener installed within the pocket, the seat has a relatively more stiff seating surface that supports the body surface of a child placed within the swing volume without deflection, as suited for a toddler able to sit up on its own.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Cedarworks, Inc.
    Inventor: Barrett W. Brown