Firm cushion

• US 6,811,227 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Andersson, Christer, Andreasson, Bengt
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US10/395,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20040189078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.1, 297/452.49, 297/452.18, 297/452.29, 297/452.33, 297/452.34
• US Class Current: 297/452.49
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/502 attached to the base of the seat B60N2/504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/544 Compression or tension springs B60N2/542 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/68 Seat frames
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7011 of substantially two-dimensional shape, e.g. hammock-like, plastic shells, fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7094 Upholstery springs

Abstract

A vehicle seat structure having a one-piece flexible shell incorporated in the seating surface portion and a one-piece flexible shell incorporated in the backrest portion, wherein dampener structures are provided between the shell and the seat frame for added comfort and vibration isolation.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat structure comprising:

a support frame adapted to be connected to a vehicle frame;

a seating surface portion connected to said support frame, said seating surface portion including a seating surface shell;

a backrest portion pivotally connected to at least one of said support frame and said seating surface portion, said backrest portion including a backrest frame and a backrest shell pivotally connected to said backrest frame;

a plurality of seating dampener structures connecting the seating surface shell to said support frame to permit relative movement therebetween; and

a plurality of backrest dampener structures connecting the backrest shell to the backrest frame to permit relative movement therebetween.

2. The vehicle seat structure according to claim 1, wherein said backrest portion includes a pair of side bolsters extending outwardly therefrom.

3. The vehicle seat structure according to claim 2, wherein each of the side bolsters has a plurality of slits formed therein extending to a peripheral edge thereof to provide greater flexibility of the shell at the locations adjacent said slits.

4. The vehicle seat structure according to claim 1, wherein each of said seating dampener structures includes a first bracket connected to said support frame and a second bracket connected to the seating surface shell, the first bracket and the second bracket joined to permit relative movement therebetween.

5. The vehicle seat structure according to claim 4, wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are joined by a rubber coupling.

6. The vehicle seat structure according to claim 1, wherein said seating dampener structures are rubber couplings.

7. The vehicle seat structure according to claim 1, wherein said backrest shell is pivotally connected to said backrest frame at a bottom portion of said backrest shell.

8. The vehicle seat structure according to claim 1, wherein said backrest dampener structures are springs.

9. The vehicle seat structure according to claim 1, wherein said backrest shell is pivotally connected to said backrest frame via a hinge member, wherein said hinge member is pivotally connected to said backrest frame and said backrest shell.

10. A vehicle seat structure comprising:

a seating surface portion adapted to be connected to a vehicle frame;

a backrest portion pivotally connected to said seating surface portion, said backrest portion including a backrest frame and a backrest shell pivotally connected to said backrest frame;

a plurality of backrest dampener structures connecting the backrest shell to the backrest frame to permit relative movement therebetween.

11. The vehicle seat structure according to claim 10, wherein said backrest portion includes a pair of side bolsters extending outwardly therefrom.

12. The vehicle seat structure according to claim 11, wherein each of the side bolsters has a plurality of slits formed therein extending to a peripheral edge thereof to provide greater flexibility of the shell at the locations adjacent said slits.

13. The vehicle seat structure according to claim 10, wherein said backrest dampener structures are springs.

14. The vehicle seat structure according to claim 10, wherein one of the backrest shell and seating surface portion is formed of a steel wire frame.

15. The vehicle scat structure according to claim 10, wherein said backrest shell is pivotally connected to said backrest frame at a bottom portion of said backrest shell.

16. The vehicle seat structure according to claim 10, wherein said backrest shell is pivotally connected to said backrest frame via a hinge member, wherein said hinge member is pivotally connected to said backrest frame and said backrest shell.

17. A vehicle seat structure comprising:

a seating surface portion adapted to be connected to a vehicle frame;

a backrest portion pivotally connected to said seating surface portion, said backrest portion including a backrest frame and a backrest shell; and

a plurality of permit backrest dampener structures connecting the backrest shell to the backrest frame to permit relative movement therebetween;

wherein said backrest portion includes a pair of side bolsters extending outwardly therefore, and wherein each of said side bolsters includes a plurality of slits extending to a peripheral edge thereof to provide greater flexibility of said backrest shell at the locations adjacent said slits.