Self-retaining elastic strap for vent blower attachment to a back carrier

• US 10,596,936 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2017
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sikorski, Jeffrey, Mozurkewich, Kevin, Diop, Mbathie, Line, Johnathan Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US15/587,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20180319298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 29718013, 29718014, 2972173, 454120, 417230, 417231, 417363, 41742315, 224275
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5621 by air
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/565 sucked from the seat surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/64 Back-rests or cushions B60N2/2222 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/665 using inflatable bladders
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/68 Seat frames
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/682 Joining means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/602 Mounting in cavities

Abstract

A seating assembly includes a seatback having a seatback cushion. A carrier supports the seatback cushion. An upper thoracic region includes a first side support defining a first receiving aperture and a second side support defining a second receiving aperture. A lower lumber region includes an actuatable lumbar support configured to move between deployed and non-deployed conditions. An air mover is disposed between the first and second side supports. The air mover is suspended between the first and second side supports by a flexible band that extends laterally between the first and second side supports and is removably coupled with the first and second receiving apertures.

Claims

1. A seating assembly comprising:

a seatback carrier including;

an upper thoracic region including a first side support defining a first receiving aperture and a second side support defining a second receiving aperture;

a band that is stretched laterally between the first and second side supports and which is removably coupled with the first and second receiving apertures, wherein each end of the band includes a generally planar member configured to engage one of the first and second side supports; and

an air mover suspended by the band between the first and second side supports.

2. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the band is in tension when positioned across the carrier.

3. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the band extends behind the air mover.

4. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second side supports define inner and outer walls and wherein the first and second receiving apertures are located on the inner walls.

5. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second receiving apertures are located proximate inner carrier support flanges.

6. A seating assembly comprising:

a seatback including a seatback cushion; and

a carrier supporting the seatback cushion and including;

an upper thoracic region including a first side support defining a first receiving aperture and a second side support defining a second receiving aperture;

a lower lumber region including an actuatable lumbar support configured to move between deployed and non-deployed conditions; and

an air mover disposed between the first and second side supports, the air mover being suspended between the first and second side supports by a band that is stretched laterally between the first and second side supports and which is removably coupled with the first and second receiving apertures.

7. The seating assembly of claim 6, wherein the first and second receiving apertures are vertically-aligned elongate slots.

8. The seating assembly of claim 6, wherein the air mover includes first and second connectors configured to receive and retain the band.

9. The seating assembly of claim 6, wherein each end of the band includes a generally planar member configured to engage one of the first and second side supports.

10. The seating assembly of claim 6, wherein the band is in tension when positioned across the carrier.

11. The seating assembly of claim 6, wherein a portion of the band extends behind the air mover.

12. The seating assembly of claim 6, wherein each of the first and second side supports define inner and outer walls, and wherein the first and second receiving apertures are located on the inner walls.

13. The seating assembly of claim 6, wherein the first and second receiving apertures are located proximate inner carrier support flanges.

14. A method of assembling a seating assembly comprising:

providing a seatback carrier having an upper thoracic region;

defining first and second receiving apertures in the seatback carrier;

extending a band that is stretched laterally across the upper thoracic region, which is removably coupled with the first and second receiving apertures; and

slidably suspending an air mover on the band between first and second side supports.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

defining the first and second receiving apertures as vertically-aligned elongate slots.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

configuring a generally planar member at each end of the band to engage one of the first and second side supports.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

positioning the band when in tension across the carrier.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

extending a portion of the band behind the air mover.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

defining inner and outer walls of each of the first and second side supports, and locating the first and second receiving apertures on the inner walls.