Multi-zone seat suspension

• US 10,471,870 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2017
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Mankame, Nilesh D., Akolkar, Onkar S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wendell, Mark R
• Application Number:
  US15/727,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20190106037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 29745248, 29745263-45265
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/20 with reinforcement in the foam layer
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/58 Seat coverings
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/70 Upholstery springs ; Upholstery
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7035 Cushions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7094 Upholstery springs

Abstract

A suspension member for a seat assembly includes a plurality of zones which define spatially varying properties of the suspension member. Each of the zones produces a response to an occupant load imposed on the seat assembly by a seated occupant, where the response includes one or more of a stiffness response, an energy dissipation response, and a thermal response. The response produced by each zone is different from the response produced from any other of the zones. The suspension member can be made of a homogenous material or made of a combination of materials such that each zone is made of a different material. The suspension member can include a textile material formed by weaving, knitting or crocheting. At least one zone of the suspension member can include one or more apertures.

Claims

1. A seat assembly for seating an occupant, wherein the seated occupant exerts an occupant load on the seat assembly, the seat assembly comprising:

a cushion;

a frame; and

a suspension member;

wherein the suspension member is positioned intermediate the cushion and the frame;

wherein the suspension member comprises;

a first zone configured to provide a first response to the occupant load;

wherein the first response is a first contact pressure exerted on the seated occupant in the first zone;

a second zone configured to provide a second response to the occupant load;

wherein the second response is a second contact pressure exerted on the seated occupant in the second zone;

wherein the first response is different than the second response; and

wherein;

the first zone is made of a first material;

the second zone is made of a second material; and

the first material is different than the second material.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first response includes at least one of a stiffness response, an energy dissipation response, and a thermal response; and

the second response includes at least one of a stiffness response, an energy dissipation response, and a thermal response.

3. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first zone is characterized by a first elastic modulus;

the second zone is characterized by a second elastic modulus; and

the first elastic modulus is different than the second elastic modulus.

4. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first zone has a first shape which defines the first response;

the second zone has a second shape which defines the second response; and

the first shape is different than the second shape.

5. The seat assembly of claim 4, the suspension member further comprising:

first and second lateral portions;

a medial portion disposed between the first and second lateral portions;

wherein the first zone includes the medial portion; and

wherein the second zone includes the first and second lateral portions.

6. The seat assembly of claim 5, wherein the suspension member is made of a homogeneous material.

7. The seat assembly of claim 5, wherein:

the medial portion is characterized by a first elastic modulus;

the first response provided by the first zone includes a stiffness response defined by the first elastic modulus;

the first and second lateral portions are characterized by a second elastic modulus;

the second response provided by the second zone includes a stiffness response defined by the second elastic modulus; and

the first elastic modulus is greater than the second elastic modulus.

8. The seat assembly of claim 7, wherein:

the first zone is made of a first material;

the second zone is made of a second material; and

wherein the first material is different than the second material.

9. The seat assembly of claim 1, the suspension member further comprising:

a first surface and a second surface defined by the suspension member;

at least one aperture formed in one of the first and the second zones;

wherein the at least one aperture extends through the suspension member from the first surface to the second surface; and

wherein a response of the one of the first and the second zones is defined by the at least one aperture.

10. The seat assembly of claim 1, the suspension member further comprising:

a third zone configured to provide a third response to the occupant load; and

at least one aperture formed in the third zone;

wherein the third response is a third contact pressure exerted on the seated occupant in the third zone.

11. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein:

one of the first and second zones includes textile having at least one of a woven structure, a knitted structure, and a crocheted structure; and

an other of the first and second zones is formed of a non-textile material.

12. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the suspension member includes a textile material; and

the textile material includes at least one of a woven structure, a knitted structure, and a crocheted structure.

13. The seat assembly of claim 1, the suspension member further comprising:

a first textile structure forming the first zone;

wherein the first textile structure includes at least one of a woven structure, a knitted structure, and a crocheted structure;

a second textile structure forming the second zone;

wherein the second textile structure includes at least one of a woven structure, a knitted structure, and a crocheted structure; and

wherein the first textile structure is different than the second textile structure.

14. The seat assembly of claim 13, wherein the first textile structure is different than the second textile structure in at least one of a stitch type, a stitch pattern, a yarn type, a yarn denier, a needle size, a fiber type, a fiber size, a stitch density, a warp pattern, a weft pattern, and a weave type.

15. A seat assembly for seating an occupant, wherein the seated occupant exerts an occupant load on the seat assembly, the seat assembly comprising:

a cushion;

a frame; and

a suspension member;

wherein the suspension member is positioned intermediate the cushion and the frame;

wherein the suspension member comprises;

a first surface and a second surface defined by the suspension member;

a first zone configured to provide a first response to the occupant load;

wherein the first zone is characterized by a first elastic modulus;

a second zone configured to provide a second response to the occupant load;

wherein the second zone is characterized by a second elastic modulus;

wherein the first elastic modulus is different than the second elastic modulus;

wherein the first response includes at least one of a stiffness response and an energy dissipation response;

wherein the second response includes at least one of a stiffness response and an energy dissipation response;

at least one aperture formed in one of the first and the second zones;

wherein the at least one aperture extends through the suspension member from the first surface to the second surface; and

wherein the first response is different than the second response.

16. The seat assembly of claim 15, wherein:

the suspension member is made of a textile material; and

the textile material includes at least one of a woven structure, a knitted structure, and a crocheted structure.

17. The seat assembly of claim 16, the suspension member further comprising:

a third zone configured to provide a third response to the occupant load;

wherein the third zone includes a plurality of apertures;

wherein the third response is a third contact pressure exerted on the seated occupant in the third zone.

18. The seat assembly of claim 15, wherein:

the seat assembly is part of a vehicle.

19. A seat assembly for seating an occupant, wherein the seated occupant exerts an occupant load on the seat assembly, the seat assembly comprising:

a cushion;

a frame; and

a suspension member;

wherein the suspension member is positioned intermediate the cushion and the frame;

wherein the suspension member comprises;

a first zone configured to provide a first response to the occupant load;

wherein the first zone is made of a first textile material including at least one of a knitted structure and a crocheted structure;

wherein the first response is defined by the at least one of the knitted structure and the crocheted structure of the first textile;

a second zone configured to provide a second response to the occupant load;

wherein the second zone is made of a second textile material including at least one of a knitted structure and a crocheted structure;

wherein the second response is defined by the at least one of the knitted structure and the crocheted structure of the second textile; and

wherein the first response is different than the second response.