Vehicle Seat Construction

• US 20080309143A1
• Filed: 06/14/2007
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Demick, Robert L., Booth, Daniel W., Bruckbauer, Eric M., Kilmer, Jeffrey J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,837,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/452.56
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/006 Use of three-dimensional fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/20 with reinforcement in the foam layer
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/58 Seat coverings
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5825 by hooks, staples, clips, snap fasteners or the like

Abstract

A vehicle seat includes a foam cushion, a flexible cover at least partially defining the outer surface of the vehicle seat, and a spacer fabric. The spacer fabric includes a first fabric panel operatively connected to the flexible cover, a second fabric panel operatively connected to the foam cushion, and an interconnecting layer. The interconnecting layer resiliently interconnects the first and second fabric panels.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising:

a foam cushion;

a flexible cover at least partially defining the outer surface of the vehicle seat; and

a spacer fabric having a first fabric panel operatively connected to the flexible cover, a second fabric panel operatively connected to the foam cushion, and an interconnecting layer that operatively interconnects the first and second fabric panels and that resiliently biases the first and second panels away from one another.

2. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the second fabric panel is adhesively bonded directly to the foam cushion.

3. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the foam cushion defines a concavity;

wherein the vehicle seat further comprises a first fastening element mounted with respect to the foam cushion and being at least partially disposed within the concavity;

said first fastening element operatively connecting the spacer fabric to the foam cushion.

4. The vehicle seat of claim 3, further comprising a second fastening element mounted with respect to the spacer fabric and engaged with the first fastening element.

5. The vehicle seat of claim 4, wherein the first and second fastening elements are hook and loop fastening elements.

6. The vehicle seat of claim 4, wherein one of the first and second fastening elements is a clip.

7. The vehicle seat of claim 3, wherein the foam cushion defines a cushion surface;

wherein the concavity is open at the cushion surface; and

wherein the second fabric panel contacts the cushion surface.

8. A vehicle seat comprising:

a lower seat portion;

a seatback portion operatively connected to the lower seat portion;

a foam cushion;

a spacer fabric having a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel operatively connected to the foam cushion, and a plurality of pile yarns resiliently biasing the first and second fabric panels from one another; and

a flexible cover having a surface that at least partially defines the outer surface of at least one of the lower seat portion and the seatback portion, said flexible cover being operatively connected to the first fabric layer.

9. The vehicle seat of claim 8, wherein the second fabric panel is adhesively bonded directly to the foam cushion.

10. The vehicle seat of claim 8, wherein the foam cushion defines a concavity;

wherein the vehicle seat further comprises a first fastening element mounted with respect to the foam cushion and being at least partially disposed within the concavity;

said first fastening element operatively connecting the spacer fabric to the foam cushion.

11. The vehicle seat of claim 10, further comprising a second fastening element mounted with respect to the spacer fabric and engaged with the first fastening element.

12. The vehicle seat of claim 11, wherein the first and second fastening elements are hook and loop fastening elements.

13. The vehicle seat of claim 11, wherein one of the first and second fastening elements is a clip.

14. The vehicle seat of claim 8, wherein the foam cushion, the spacer fabric, and the flexible cover are part of the seatback portion.

15. A vehicle seat comprising:

a lower seat portion;

a seatback portion operatively connected to the lower seat portion;

a foam cushion; and

a spacer fabric having a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel operatively connected to the foam cushion, and a plurality of pile yarns resiliently biasing the first and second fabric panels from one another; and

said first fabric panel defining at least part of the outer surface of at least one of the lower seat portion and the seatback portion.

16. The vehicle seat of claim 15, wherein the second fabric panel is adhesively bonded directly to the foam cushion.

17. The vehicle seat of claim 15, wherein the foam cushion defines a concavity;

wherein the vehicle seat further comprises a first fastening element mounted with respect to the foam cushion and being at least partially disposed within the concavity;

said first fastening element operatively connecting the spacer fabric to the foam cushion.

18. The vehicle seat of claim 17, further comprising a second fastening element mounted with respect to the spacer fabric and engaged with the first fastening element.

19. The vehicle seat of claim 18, wherein the first and second fastening elements are hook and loop fastening elements.

20. The vehicle seat of claim 18, wherein one of the first and second fastening elements is a clip.