SEAT STRUCTURE

• US 3,669,498 A
• Filed: 08/03/1970
• Issued: 06/13/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hoover Universal Incorporated (Adient plc)
• Original Assignee: John S. Meyers, Nicholas Wolofski
• Inventors: Wolofski, Nicholas, Meyers, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nunberg, Casmir A.
• Application Number:
  US05/060,317
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 297/396,452,454-460,DIG.1 5/351,354,355
• US Class Current: 297/452.53
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/18 having foamed material included in cushioning part foamed material mattresses A47C27/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7058 Metallic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7094 Upholstery springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/72 Attachment or adjustment thereof

Abstract

A seat structure consisting of a seat cushion unit and a seat back unit wherein each of said units comprises a foam body and a spring assembly embedded in the body. The seating units are mounted on a frame and each spring assembly includes a plurality of spaced linear springs which project from the foam body and are attached to the frame so as to mount the seating unit on the frame. In the seating cushion unit, the linear springs, border wire and bolster wires cooperate to provide desired seating resilience and the spring end portions are snapped over upstruck tabs formed on the frame. In the seating back unit, the spring end portions extend through mounting slots in the frame. In both units, the springs are connected by bolster wires and the foam bodies are formed with grooves aligned with the bolster wires to enable mounting of the seat structure covering on the foam bodies by attachment to the bolster wires.

Claims

1. In a seat structure, a rigid frame having side rails, a seating unit comprising a foam body and a spring assembly embedded in said body, said spring assembly including a plurality of spaced linear springs adapted to yieldably resist seating loads, means connecting said linear springs, at least some of said springs being provided with mounting end portions which project from said foam body, and means on said frame side rails and integral therewith engaged with each of said end portions so as to mount said end portions on said frame and positively locate said end portions in fixed positions on said frame so that when said linear springs are subjected to seating loads said end portions are prevented by said side rails from moving relative to each other.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said means connecting said linear springs comprises at least one bolster wire providing an attachment to which covering material for said seat structure can be attached.

3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein said mounting end portions at corresponding ends of said springs are arranged in a substantially aligned relation.

4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein said means on said frame rails comprises outwardly extending tab members and wherein said spring end portions are snapped over said tab members with said springs in tension.

5. The structure according to claim 3 wherein said means on said frame rails comprises frame portions provided with slots through which said spring end portions extend and engage said frame portions.

6. In a seat structure, a seat cushion for mounting on a rigid frame comprising a foam body having a front end and a rear end, a spring assembly embedded in said body, said spring assembly comprising a plurality of side-by-side longitudinally extending transversely spaced linear springs adapted to yieldably resist seating loads, said linear springs extending transversely of said body and being spaced apart in a direction front to rear of said body, means connected to and extending between said linear springs, one of said linear springs adjacent the front end of said body having upwardly and outwardly inclined end sections, and a generally U-shape border wire having an intermediate section at the front end of said body extending transversely thereof at a level above said linear springs and rearwardly extending leg sections secured to the upper ends of said inclined end sections.

7. The structure according to claim 6 wherein said border wire leg sections extend downwardly and rearwardly and are secured at the terminal ends thereof to one of said linear springs adjacent the rear end of said foam body.

8. The structure according to claim 7 wherein said linear springs are of corrugated shape and some of said springs terminate in transversely extending end portions which project out of said body and are arranged in substantiAl alignment on opposite sides of said body.

9. The structure according to claim 6 wherein said means connected to and extending between said linear springs comprises a pair of spaced bolster wires extending front to rear of said body and connected to said linear springs adjacent the ends thereof.

10. The structure according to claim 9 further including a third bolster wire secured to and extending longitudinally of one of said linear springs adjacent the front end of said body.

11. In a seat structure, a rigid frame having side rails, a seat back comprising a foam body having a top end, a bottom end and a pair of sides, a spring assembly embedded in said body, said assembly comprising a plurality of corrugated springs extending in a direction side to side in said body and spaced apart in a direction top to bottom in said body, each of said springs having torsion bars provided with straight portions, means in said body secured to and extending between said torsion bar straight portions so as to connect said corrugated springs, each of said corrugated springs terminating at the ends thereof in hook shape extensions which project from said body, said side rails having slots into which said hook shape extensions project and engage said side rails, said side rails locating said hook shape extensions in fixed positions on said frame so that when said corrugated springs are subjected to load said extensions are prevented by said side rails from moving relative to each other.

12. The structure according to claim 11 wherein said body is formed with grooves adjacent said sides extending in a direction from top to bottom of said body, and said extensions project from said body into said grooves.

13. The structure according to claim 11 wherein said means connecting said linear springs comprises a bolster wire having straight portions and wherein said body is formed with grooves aligned with and terminating at the bottom ends thereof adjacent said straight portions.

14. The structure according to claim 12 wherein said body has a top end portion disposed above said spring assembly and shaped to form a downwardly opening cavity into which said rigid frame projects.