MODULAR SEAT

• US 20190061562A1
• Filed: 08/21/2018
• Published: 02/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC (Forvia SE)
• Original Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC (Forvia SE)
• Inventors: TAIT, Shaun D., DURKEE, Chad W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,640,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0284 Adjustable seat-cushion length B60N2/0224 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0292 Multiple configuration seats, e.g. for spacious vehicles or mini-buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2222 the back-rest having two or more parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5621 by air
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5678 characterised by electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/643 shape of the back-rests B60N2/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/663 portable with attachment to the back-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/682 Joining means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/976 massaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/684 the back rest being mounted or joined with an easy attachment system to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/30 Seat or seat parts characterised by comprising plural parts or pieces

Abstract

An occupant support includes a seat frame and a module assembly. The module assembly is arranged to cover the seat frame.

Claims

1. An occupant support comprising:

a seat frame adapted to be supported by a vehicle floor,

seat trim defining an interior space, the seat frame located in the interior space and the seat trim coupled to the seat frame, and

a module assembly coupled to the seat frame and located in the interior space, the module assembly including one or more modules,

wherein each module is adapted to be selectively interchanged with a separate replacement module, one or more of the one or more modules having a selected function mechanism such that the module assembly may be configured with one or more desired modules having desired function mechanisms.

2. The occupant support of claim 1, wherein the seat frame includes a seat-frame bottom and a seat-frame back, the module assembly including a cushion module assembly arranged to cover a portion of the seat-frame bottom and a back module assembly adapted to cover a portion of the seat-frame back.

3. The occupant support of claim 1, wherein the module assembly includes a first bolster module, a second bolster module located in spaced-apart lateral relation to the first bolster module, a front insert module located between the first and second bolsters, and a rear insert module located behind the front insert module and between the first and second bolster modules.

4. The occupant support of claim 3, wherein the first bolster module and the second bolster module include one or more function mechanisms selected from the group comprising a heating mechanism, a haptic mechanism, an adjustment mechanism, a massage mechanism, and a ventilation mechanism.

5. The occupant seat of claim 3, wherein the front insert module includes one or more function mechanisms selected from the group comprising a heating mechanism, a massage mechanism, a ventilation mechanism, and a length adjustment mechanism.

6. The occupant seat of claim 3, wherein the rear insert module one or more function mechanisms selected from the group comprising a heating mechanism, a massage mechanism, a ventilation mechanism, and an active wellness mechanism.

7. The occupant support of claim 1, wherein the module assembly includes a first bolster module, a second bolster module located in spaced-apart lateral relation to the first bolster module, a lower insert module located between the first and second bolster modules, and an upper insert module located above the lower insert module and between the first and second bolster modules.

8. The occupant support of claim 7, wherein the first bolster module and the second bolster module include one or more function mechanisms selected from the group comprising a heating mechanism and an adjustment mechanism.

9. The occupant support of claim 7, wherein the lower insert module includes one or more of the following function mechanisms selected from the group comprising a heating mechanism, a lumbar adjustment mechanism, a massage mechanism, a ventilation mechanism, and an active wellness mechanism.

10. The occupant support of claim 7, wherein the upper insert module includes one or more of the following function mechanisms selected from the group comprising a heating mechanism, a lumbar adjustment mechanism, a massage mechanism, and an upper back adjustment mechanism.

11. The occupant support of claim 1, wherein the at least one or more modules of the module assembly include one or more first modules, each first module having a function mechanism and being selectively interchangeable with a replacement second module, each replacement second module having a function mechanism that provides a different function from the function mechanism of the first module interchanged with the replacement second module.

12. A method of arranging an occupant support, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a seat frame,

providing a seat trim formed to include an interior space therein, the seat frame is located in the interior space and the seat trim coupled to the seat frame,

providing a plurality of modules for forming a module assembly, the module assembly adapted to be coupled to the seat frame and located in the interior space, the plurality of modules including a plurality of cushion modules and a plurality of back modules, the plurality of cushion modules including a first cushion module having a first function mechanism and a second cushion module having a function mechanism that is different from the function mechanism of the first cushion module, the plurality of back modules including a first back module having a second function mechanism and a second back module having a function mechanism that is different from the function mechanism of the first back module,

attaching a selected one of the first cushion module and the second cushion module to the seat frame, and

attaching a selected one of the first back module and the second back module to the seat frame.

13. A method of arranging an occupant support, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a seat frame,

providing a module assembly coupled to the seat frame, the module assembly including a plurality of first modules,

interchanging a first module having a first function mechanism with a second module, the second module having a second function mechanism that is different from the first function mechanism of the first module.