Seat support for a vehicle seat

• US 4,583,783 A
• Filed: 03/28/1984
• Issued: 04/22/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tachikawa Spring Company Limited (Tachi-S Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tachikawa Spring Company Limited (Tachi-S Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kanai, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): McCall, James T.
• Application Number:
  US06/594,315
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452, 297/460, 160/378, 160/DIG. 15, 160/327, 160/328
• US Class Current: 297/452.56
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/282 with mesh-like supports, e.g. elastomeric membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/66 Lumbar supports
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 160/15 Web-to-tube fasteners

Abstract

A seat support for a vehicle seat is disclosed which comprises a seat frame, two connection members respectively mounted to the two side members of the seat frame and a support member formed of a cloth. In this seat support, the cloth support member is extended between and mounted to the two side frame members of the seat frame by means of the two connection members. The connection members are fixed to the two frame members respectively in such a manner that the support member can be extended in a tensioned manner.

Claims

1. A seat support for a vehicle seat comprising a substantially rectangular seat frame including two opposing side frame members, two connection members respectively mounted to the two opposing side frame members of said seat frame, and a support member comprising a cloth material extended between said two connection members, wherein said two connection members are fixedly secured to said seat frame in a manner that said support member can be extended over and mounted to said seat frame, and wherein said two connection members are bent forwardly in the central portions thereof to form respective lumbar support portions.

2. The seat frame as recited in claim 1, wherein said two connection members are made respectively of a steel or iron wire and are inserted into bag-shaped portions provided in said support member along both ends thereof, and wherein the portions of said connection members which are projected outwardly of said bag-shaped portions of said support member are fixed to said seat frame by welding and are thereafter bent outwardly by pressing, respectively.

3. The seat frame as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said connection members is composed of a hinge and wherein one wing of said hinge is fixed to the end portion of said support member and the other wing thereof is fixed to said seat frame.

4. The seat frame as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said connection members comprises an insertion member formed of a hard material and fixed along the end portion of said support member, and wherein said each connection member is engaged with an associated engagement member fixed to said seat frame such that said support member can be extended in a tensioned manner.

5. The seat frame as recited in claim 1, wherein said support member is formed of an expansion or nonexpansion cloth.

6. The seat frame as recited in claim 1, wherein said support member and said connection members are fixed to each other by adhering or sewing.

7. A vehicle seat support comprising:

a seat frame including a pair of separated opposing frame members;

a fabric support member having opposing side portions adapted to be extended in a tensioned state between said opposing frame members;

first and second connection means each rigidly connected to a respective one of said opposing frame members and said opposing side portions for maintaining said fabric support in said tensioned state between said opposing frame members, each said first and second connection means including;

(a) a generally U-shaped hinge connection member having a lower wing thereof fixed to said respective frame member and an upper wing thereof attached to said respective fabric support side portion, each said connection member being positioned such that said upper and lower wings of one of said connection member extend away from said upper and lower wings, respectively, of the other said connection member, said upper wings of each connection member together forming the means by which said tensioned state is adjustable by resiliently bending said upper wings so as to displace same relative to its respective lower wing, and

(b) a U-shaped grasp member in registry with and substantially enveloping said connection member for maintaining the resilient bend in said upper wing.

8. A vehicle seat as in claim 7 wherein each said first and second connection means further includes means defining a forwardly bent portion to establish a lumbar support region of said fabric support member.

9. A vehicle seat support comprising:

a seat frame including a pair of separated opposing frame members;

a fabric support member having opposing side portions extended between said opposing frame members so as to be maintained in a tensioned state,

said opposing frame members each including connection means for holding a respective side portion of said fabric support member to maintain said fabric support member in said tensioned state, said connection means including a lower generally U-shaped portion oriented substantially perpendicular to said fabric support member and an upper portion having means defining a guide surface which slopes downwardly and inwardly toward said U-shaped portion,

said opposing side portions each including insertion means inserted into said U-shaped portion of a respective connection means to thereby also be oriented substantially perpendicular to said fabric support member to hold said fabric support member in said tensioned state between said opposing frame members,

said guide surface-defining means for guiding said insertion means into said U-shaped portion during insertion of said insertion means into said connection means.

10. A vehicle seat as in claim 9 wherein said insertion means is a clip member.