Fastener for securing a bolster to a seating surface

• US 6,283,552 B1
• Filed: 08/19/1999
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Schowalter, Jean-Paul, Krsteski, John, Halse, Larry E., Koester, Daniel J., Larsen, Lance E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US09/377,469
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 297/440.1, 297/452.6, 297/440.11, 297/452.59, 297/452.62, 297/218.2, 297/218.1
• US Class Current: 297/440.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7005 detachable

Abstract

A seat assembly for a vehicle including a seat frame, a seating surface secured to the seat frame and having spaced apart, generally parallel first fibers and spaced apart second fibers transverse to the first fibers, a bolster, and a fastener. The fastener has an attachment member securable to the bolster and a series of hook members extending from the attachment member and insertable between the first fibers and the second fibers of the seating surface. The hook members have a barb portion extending from the hook members to provide retention of the fastener to the first fibers, thereby securing the bolster to the seating surface.

Claims

1. A seat assembly for a vehicle, said seat assembly comprising:

a seat frame;

a seating surface secured to said seat frame and having spaced apart generally parallel first fibers and spaced apart second fibers transverse to said fibers;

a bolster; and

a fastener having an attachment member securable to said bolster and a series of hook members extending from said attachment member, said hook members being insertable between said first fibers and said second fibers of said seating surface, said hook members having a barb portion extending therefrom to provide retention of said fastener to said first fibers thereby securing said bolster to said seating surface.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said attachment member has a generally elongated shape substantially located in a first plane.

3. The seat assembly of claim 2, wherein said hook members extend from said attachment member along said first plane.

4. The seat assembly of claim 3, wherein said hook members have a generally wedge shape in a second plane transverse to said first plane to allow insertion of said hook members between said first fibers of said seating surface.

5. The seat assembly of claim 3, wherein said hook members have a generally wedge shape in said first plane to allow insertion of said hook members between said second fibers of said seating surface.

6. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said hook members have a second barb portion extending therefrom to provide retention of said fastener to said first fibers.

7. The seat assembly of claim 6, wherein said barb portion extends from a first side of said hook members to provide retention of said fastener on one of said first fibers, and said second barb portion extends from a second side of said hook members to provide retention of said fastener on another of said first fibers.