Tuned flexible support member and flexible suspension features for comfort carriers

• US 10,369,905 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2017
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kondrad, Marcos Silva, Berry, S. M. Akbar, Soyka, Jr., Richard Joseph, Line, Johnathan Andrew, Billardello, Nicholas Alphonse
• Primary Examiner(s): Wendell, Mark R
• Application Number:
  US15/694,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20170361735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 29745215, 29745214, 29745211, 29745263, 29745256, 29745252, 29745253, 29745254, 297291
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/20 the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/04, B60N2/22 , B60N2/3002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2222 the back-rest having two or more parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/682 Joining means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7094 Upholstery springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/72 Attachment or adjustment thereof

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.

Claims

1. A seat support carrier comprising:

an upper seatback panel including a lower cross-member and a first set of flexible suspension members undulating in a first direction through a mid portion of the upper seatback panel;

a second set of flexible suspension members undulating in a second direction, different than the first direction, in the lower cross-member; and

a lower seatback panel including an upper cross-member having a third set of flexible suspension members undulating in the second direction, different than the first direction.

2. The seat support carrier of claim 1, wherein the lower seatback panel includes a border member defining a central aperture.

3. The seat support carrier of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of quick connect features disposed on both the upper seatback panel and the lower seatback panel.

4. The seat support carrier of claim 1, further comprising:

first and second bolster supports that include undulating flexible suspension members.

5. The seat support carrier of claim 4, wherein the undulating flexible suspension members undulate in the same direction as the second set of flexible suspension members.

6. The seat support carrier of claim 1, wherein the upper seatback panel and the lower seatback panel are separated by a plurality of bendable connecting arches.

7. The seat support carrier of claim 6, further comprising:

a retaining clip disposed in each of the plurality of bendable connecting arches.

8. The seat support carrier of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of retaining clips extending around the first set of flexible suspension members.

9. The seat support carrier of claim 1, further comprising:

solid bolster supports disposed on the upper seatback panel.

10. A seat support carrier comprising:

a first seatback panel including a lower cross-member comprising;

a first set of flexible suspension members extending from the lower cross-member and undulating in a first direction; and

a second set of flexible suspension members disposed in the lower cross-member and undulating in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction; and

a second seatback panel operably coupled to the first seatback panel, the second seatback panel including first and second bolster supports, wherein each of the first and second bolster supports includes an undulating flexible suspension member.

11. The seat support carrier of claim 10, further comprising:

a continuous peripheral rim extending about first and second sides and a top of the first seatback panel.

12. The seat support carrier of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of quick connect features disposed on both the first seatback panel and the second seatback panel.

13. The seat support carrier of claim 10, further comprising:

a third set of flexible suspension members proximate the second set of flexible suspension members.

14. The seat support carrier of claim 13, wherein the third set of flexible suspension members undulate in the second direction.

15. The seat support carrier of claim 10, wherein the first seatback panel and the second seatback panel are separated by a plurality of bendable connecting arches.

16. The seat support carrier of claim 15, further comprising:

a retaining clip disposed in each of the plurality of bendable connecting arches.

17. The seat support carrier of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of retaining clips extending around the first set of flexible suspension members.

18. A seat support carrier comprising:

an upper seatback panel including a first set of flexible suspension members undulating in a first direction and a second set of suspension members undulating in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and

a lower seatback panel including a first set of flexible suspension members undulating in a first direction and a second set of suspension members undulating in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

19. The seat support carrier of claim 18, wherein the upper seatback panel and the lower seatback panel are separated by a plurality of bendable connecting arches.

20. The seat support carrier of claim 18, further comprising:

a plurality of quick connect features disposed on both the upper seatback panel and the lower seatback panel.