Vehicle seat component and method for making same
First Claim
1. A vehicle seat component comprising:
- a seating portion molded from an expanded polymer selected from the group consisting of expanded polyethylene and expanded polypropylene with the seating portion having a density in the range of 0.3 to 2.8 pounds per cubic foot so as to have softness to provide seating comfort; and
a seat support for mounting the seating portion on a vehicle body, and the seat support being molded from expanded polypropylene and having a density in the range of 5 to 10 pounds per cubic foot so as to have sufficient rigidity to provide structural support.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle seat component (14, 14a, 14′) and its method for making same with a seating portion (20) molded from either expanded polyethylene or expanded polypropylene to have a density in the range of 0.3 to 2.8 pounds per cubic foot with a softness to provide seating comfort. A seat support (22) of the seat component is molded from expanded polypropylene and has a density in the range of 5 to 10 pounds per cubic foot so as to provide structural support. The seating portion (14, 14a) can be molded from either expanded pellets (28) or extruded and expanded tubes (34) of either polyethylene or polypropylene, while the seat support (22) is molded from expanded polypropylene pellets (30). The seat component (14′) may have a cover (36′) molded to the seating portion (20), and both the moldings may be sequentially in the same mold (44).
79 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vehicle seat component comprising:
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a seating portion molded from an expanded polymer selected from the group consisting of expanded polyethylene and expanded polypropylene with the seating portion having a density in the range of 0.3 to 2.8 pounds per cubic foot so as to have softness to provide seating comfort; and
a seat support for mounting the seating portion on a vehicle body, and the seat support being molded from expanded polypropylene and having a density in the range of 5 to 10 pounds per cubic foot so as to have sufficient rigidity to provide structural support. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A vehicle seat component comprising:
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a seating portion molded from an expanded polymer selected from the group consisting of expanded polyethylene and expanded polypropylene with the seating portion having a density in the range of 0.3 to 2.8 pounds per cubic foot so as to have softness to provide seating comfort;
a seat support for mounting the seating portion on a vehicle body, and the seat support being molded from expanded polypropylene and having a density in the range of 5 to 10 pounds per cubic foot so as to have sufficient rigidity to provide structural support;
the seat support and the seating portion having a molded interface with each other; and
a cover to which the softer seating portion is molded.
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10. A method for making a vehicle seat component comprising:
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injecting an expanded polymer selected from the group consisting of expanded polyethylene and expanded polypropylene into a mold and heating thereof to provide molding that provides a seating portion having a density in the range of 0.3 to 2.8 pounds per cubic foot so as to have softness to provide seating comfort;
injecting expanded polypropylene into a mold and heating thereof to provide molding that provides a seat support having density in the range of 5 to 10 pounds per cubic foot so at to have sufficient rigidity to provide structural support; and
securing the seating portion to the seat support. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for making a vehicle seat component comprising:
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inserting a cover into a mold;
injecting an expanded polymer selected from the group consisting of expanded polyethylene and expanded polypropylene into the mold and heating thereof to provide molding that provides a seating portion secured to the cover and having a density in the range of 0.3 to 2.8 pounds per cubic foot so as to have softness to provide seating comfort; and
injecting expanded polypropylene into the mold and heating thereof to provide molding that provides a seat support having a molded interface with the seating portion and a density in the range of 5 to 10 pounds per cubic foot so as to have sufficient rigidity to provide structural support.
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Specification