COMPOSITE SEAT CUSHION AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME

• US 20090058168A1
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heavy Duty Bus Parts, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Heavy Duty Bus Parts, Inc.
• Inventors: Billingsley, Lyn Brandon
• Granted Patent: US 8,419,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/452.610
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/242 Bus seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7017 characterised by the manufacturing process; manufacturing upholstery or upholstery springs not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A cushion for a school bus seat can include a single piece of skinned foam including foam and a skin integrally bonded to the foam. The single piece of skinned form can include a cavity. The single piece of skinned foam can be configured to receive at least one of a substantially upright back portion of a school bus seat frame and a substantially horizontal seat portion of the school bus seat frame. The single piece of skinned foam can be configured to be disposed over and to cover at least one of the substantially upright back portion and the substantially horizontal seat portion.

Claims

1. A cushion for a school bus seat, comprising:

a single piece of skinned foam including foam and a skin integrally bonded to the foam; and

a cavity in the single piece of skinned foam and configured to receive at least one of a substantially upright back portion of a school bus seat frame and a substantially horizontal seat portion of the school bus seat frame,

wherein the single piece of skinned foam is configured to be disposed over and to cover at least one of the substantially upright back portion and the substantially horizontal seat portion.

2. The cushion for a school bus seat of claim 1, wherein the single piece of skinned foam includes an outward extending portion that is configured to compartmentalize and contain passengers.

3. The cushion for a school bus seat of claim 2, wherein the outward extending portion includes a wall disposed to extend in an aisle direction of a school bus.

4. The cushion for a school bus seat of claim 2, wherein the outward extending curvature extends across a rear surface of the school bus seat along a width of the school bus seat.

5. The cushion for a school bus seat of claim 1, wherein the single piece of skinned foam is configured to receive a shoulder seat belt.

6. A method of making at least a portion of a school bus seat, comprising:

disposing within a mold a material for forming a skin of the school bus seat;

disposing on the material a foam material to form a single piece of skinned foam;

wherein the single piece of skinned foam is configured to be disposed over and to cover at least one of a substantially upright back portion of a frame of a school bus seat and a substantially horizontal seat portion of a frame of a school bus seat.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the skin is integrally bonded to the foam.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising forming a cavity in the single piece of skinned foam and configured to receive at least one of the substantially upright back portion and the substantially horizontal seat portion.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising disposing the single piece of skinned foam over and covering at least one of the substantially upright back portion and the substantially horizontal seat portion.