ULTRA-THIN SEAT CARRIER

• US 20120061988A1
• Filed: 09/15/2010
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Jaranson, John W., Kondrad, Marcos S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,590,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/63
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/643 shape of the back-rests B60N2/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/646 shape of the cushion
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/686 Panel like structures
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7011 of substantially two-dimensional shape, e.g. hammock-like, plastic shells, fabrics

Abstract

A seating assembly having a seat and a seat back. A frame assembly is disposed in each of the seat and the seat back. A carrier assembly is operably coupled with the seat and the seat back. The carrier assembly includes a plurality of elongate support tabs proximate the seat. A plurality of apertures and at least one groove are proximate the seat back. A cushion extends over the seat and the seat back.

Claims

1. A seating assembly comprising:

a seat;

a seat back;

a frame assembly disposed in each of the seat and the seat back;

a carrier assembly operably coupled with the seat and the seat back, the carrier assembly comprising;

a plurality of elongate support tabs proximate the seat;

a plurality of apertures proximate the seat back; and

at least one groove proximate the seat back; and

a cushion extending over the seat and the seat back.

2. The seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of tuning stiffness apertures disposed in the seat back.

3. The seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the seat includes a rim and a plurality of rim slots disposed in the seat.

4. The seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one longitudinal groove disposed in the seat.

5. The seating assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a lateral channel having a plurality of windows.

6. The seating assembly of claim 5, further comprising:

a retainer bridge disposed in the lateral channel that extends over the plurality of windows.

7. The seating assembly of claim 6, further comprising:

a coverstock disposed over the seat back, wherein the coverstock includes a seam with sewn salvage that is disposed in the lateral channel.

8. A seating carrier assembly comprising:

a seat element including;

a support portion having a plurality of elongate flexible tabs;

a rim portion;

a plurality of rim slots disposed in the rim portion; and

a seat back element including vertical side channels and a lateral channel.

9. The seating carrier assembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of rim slots include a top keyhole portion.

10. The seating carrier assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one longitudinal groove disposed in the seat element.

11. The seating carrier assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of tuning stiffness apertures disposed in the seat back element.

12. The seating carrier assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one window disposed in the lateral channel.

13. The seating carrier assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

a molded retainer bridge that extends across the at least one window.

14. A seat back carrier comprising:

a body portion having first and second side portions, wherein a first channel is defined between the first side portion and the body portion, and wherein a second channel is defined between the second side portion and the body portion;

a lateral channel integral with and extending across the body portion; and

a plurality of tuning stiffness apertures.

15. The seat back carrier of claim 14, further comprising:

a seat back cushion extending over the body portion.

16. The seat back carrier of claim 14, further comprising:

at least one window disposed in the lateral channel.

17. The seat back carrier of claim 14, further comprising:

a molded retainer bridge across at least one of the windows.

18. A seat carrier comprising:

a body portion having first and second side portions, wherein a first channel is defined between the first side portion and the body portion, and wherein a second channel is defined between the second side portion and the body portion;

a plurality of cushion tabs disposed in and integral with the body portion; and

a plurality of edge stiffness tuning slots disposed in the first and second side portions.

19. The seat carrier of claim 18, wherein the edge stiffness tuning slots include a top keyhole portion.

20. The seat carrier of claim 18, wherein the cushion tabs include longitudinally-aligned tabs at a forward area of the body portion and laterally-aligned tabs at a rearward area of the body portion.