Seat bottom support structure

• US 6,854,804 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ficosa North America Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ficosa North America Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Alves Vinha, Paulo Alexandre, Cruz Fernandes de Pinho, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): D ADAMO, STEPHEN D
• Application Number:
  US10/251,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20030062758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.15, 297/452.21, 297/452.22, 297/452.25, 297/452.28, 297/452.54, 297/452.49, 297/452.51, 297/452.52, 525/4, 525/5, 526/3, 526/41, 526/5, 267/103, 267/106
• US Class Current: 297/452.52
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7094 Upholstery springs

Abstract

A seat cushion extends across left and right areas that are located beneath the locations of the left and right ischial tuberosities of a seated person. A support structure beneath the cushion transmits a weight load from the cushion to the seat frame. The support structure has portions that surround the left and right ischial areas to provide the cushion with underlying, load bearing support at the peripheral boundaries of the ischial areas, and is free of load bearing portions located within or beneath the ischial areas.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a vehicle seat frame having a bottom portion configured to surround a space beneath a seated person, and a seat cushion installed over the bottom portion of the vehicle seat frame, said apparatus comprising:

a support structure configured for installation on the vehicle seat frame beneath the seat cushion to transmit a weight load from the seat cushion to the bottom portion of the vehicle seat frame;

said support structure comprising a plurality of elongated support members configured for installation on the vehicle seat frame in an array that spans the space surrounded by the bottom portion of the vehicle seat frame without support from beneath, and that defines left and right load bearing portions as left and right loops and with said elongated support members intersecting by wrapping around each other so as to be interlaced and linked together under tension in said array.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said array of elongated support members is configured for installation on the vehicle seat frame in engagement with, and under tension between, four surrounding sides of the bottom portion of the vehicle seat frame.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said elongated support members are rods.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said support structure is free of structures that fix said elongated support members to each other.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising upper and lower sheets, with said elongated support members sandwiched between said upper and lower sheets, whereby said elongated support members can be held from sliding relative to one another by said upper and lower sheets during handling and installation of said elongated support members on the vehicle seat frame.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said upper and lower sheets are attached to each other at a plurality of discrete locations between said elongated support members.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle seat frame having a bottom portion configured to surround a space beneath a seated person;

a seat cushion installed over said bottom portion of said vehicle seat frame; and

a support structure installed on said vehicle seat frame beneath said seat cushion to transmit a weight load from said seat cushion to said bottom portion of said vehicle seat frame;

said support structure comprising a plurality of elongated support members installed on said bottom portion of said vehicle seat frame in an array that spans said space without support from beneath, and that defines left and right load bearing portions as left and right loops with said elongated support members intersecting by wrapping around each other so as to be interlaced and linked together under tension in said array.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said array of elongated support members is installed on said vehicle seat frame in engagement with, and under tension between, four surrounding sides of said bottom portion of said vehicle seat frame.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said elongated support members are rods.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said support structure is free of structures that fix said elongated support members to each other.

11. An apparatus for use with a vehicle seat frame having a bottom portion surrounding a space beneath locations taken by a seated person'"'"'s pelvic bones, and a seat cushion installed over the bottom portion of the vehicle seat frame to extend across left and right ischial areas at locations beneath the left and right ischial tuberosities of the seated person, said apparatus comprising:

a support structure configured for installation on the vehicle seat frame beneath the seat cushion to transmit a weight load from the seat cushion to the bottom portion of the vehicle seat frame;

said support structure having left and right load bearing portions that surround the left and right ischial areas to provide the seat cushion with underlying load bearing support around the peripheral boundaries of the left and right ischial areas, and being free of load bearing portions within or beneath the left and right ischial areas, to suspend the seat cushion across the left and right ischial areas;

said support structure comprising a plurality of elongated support members configured to be installed on the vehicle seat frame in an array that spans the space surrounded by the bottom portion of the vehicle seat frame without support from beneath, and that defines said left and right load bearing portions as left and right loops that surround the left and right ischial areas beneath the seat cushion.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said left and right loops have cornerless peripheral shapes.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said cornerless peripheral shapes are oval.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said elongated support members include a first elongated support member that defines both of said loops.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said elongated support members consist of said first elongated support member and a plurality of additional elongated support members, each of which is configured to extend fully from said first elongated support member to the bottom portion of the vehicle seat frame.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said array of elongated support members is configured for installation on the vehicle seat frame in engagement with, and under tension between, four surrounding sides of the bottom portion of the vehicle seat frame.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said elongated support members are rods.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said support structure is free of structures that fix said elongated support members to each other.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle seat frame having a bottom portion surrounding a space beneath locations taken by a seated person'"'"'s pelvic bones;

a seat cushion installed over said space to extend across left and right ischial areas at locations beneath the left and right ischial tuberosities of the seated person; and

a support structure installed on said vehicle seat frame beneath said seat cushion to transmit a weight load from said seat cushion to said bottom portion of said vehicle seat frame;

said support structure having left and right load bearing portions that surround said left and right ischial areas to provide said seat cushion with underlying load bearing support around the peripheral boundaries of said left and right ischial areas, and being free of load bearing portions within or beneath said left and right ischial areas, to suspend said seat cushion across said left and right ischial areas;

said support structure comprising a plurality of elongated support members that are interconnected in an array that spans said space surrounded by said bottom portion of said vehicle seat frame without support from beneath, and that defines said left and right load bearing portions as left and right loops that surround said left and right ischial areas beneath said seat cushion.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said left and right loops have cornerless peripheral shapes.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said cornerless peripheral shapes are oval.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said elongated support members include a first elongated support member that defines both of said loops.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said elongated support members consist of said first elongated support member and a plurality of additional elongated support members, each of which extends fully from said first elongated support member to said bottom portion of said vehicle seat frame.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said array of elongated support members is installed on said vehicle seat frame in engagement with, and under tension between, four surrounding sides of said bottom portion of said vehicle seat frame.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said elongated support members are rods.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said support structure is free of structures that fix said elongated support members to each other.

27. An apparatus for use with a vehicle seat frame having a bottom portion surrounding a space beneath locations taken by a seated person'"'"'s pelvic bones, and a seat cushion installed over the bottom portion of the vehicle seat frame to extend across left and right ischial areas at locations beneath the left and right ischial tuberosities of the seated person, said apparatus comprising:

a support structure configured for installation on the vehicle seat frame beneath the seat cushion to transmit a weight load from the seat cushion to the bottom portion of the vehicle seat frame;

said support structure having left and right load bearing portions that surround the left and right ischial areas to provide the seat cushion with underlying load bearing support around the peripheral boundaries of the left and right ischial areas, and being free of load bearing portions within or beneath the left and right ischial areas, to suspend the seat cushion across the left and right ischial areas;

said support structure comprising a plurality of elongated support members configured for installation on the vehicle seat frame in an array that spans the space surrounded by the bottom portion of the vehicle seat frame without support from beneath, with said elongated support members intersecting by wrapping around each other so as to be interlaced and linked together under tension in said array, and with said elongated support members in said array defining said left and right load bearing portions as left and right loops that surround the left and right ischial areas beneath the seat cushion.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein said left and right loops have cornerless peripheral shapes.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein said cornerless peripheral shapes are oval.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein said elongated support members include a first elongated support member that defines both of said loops.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 30 wherein said elongated support members consist of said first elongated support member and a plurality of additional elongated support members, each of which is configured to extend fully from said first elongated support member to the bottom portion of the vehicle seat frame.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein said array of elongated support members is configured for installation on the vehicle seat frame in engagement with, and under tension between, four surrounding sides of the bottom portion of the vehicle seat frame.

33. An apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein said elongated support members are rods.

34. An apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein said support structure is free of fastening structures that fix said elongated support members to each other.

35. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle seat frame having a bottom portion surrounding a space beneath locations taken by a seated person'"'"'s pelvic bones;

a seat cushion installed over said space to extend across left and right ischial areas beneath the left and right ischial tuberosities of the seated person; and

a support structure installed on said vehicle seat frame beneath said seat cushion to transmit a weight load from said seat cushion to said bottom portion of said vehicle seat frame;

said support structure having left and right load bearing portions that surround said left and right ischial areas to provide said seat cushion with underlying load bearing support around the peripheral boundaries of said left and right ischial areas, and being free of load bearing portions within or beneath said left and right ischial areas, to suspend said seat cushion across said left and right ischial areas;

said support structure comprising a plurality of elongated support members installed on said vehicle seat frame in an array that spans said space without support from beneath, with said elongated support members intersecting by wrapping around each other so as to be interlaced and linked together under tension in said array, and with said elongated support members defining said left and right load bearing portions as left and right loops that surround said left and right ischial areas beneath said seat cushion.

36. An apparatus as defined in claim 35 wherein said left and right loops have cornerless peripheral shapes.

37. An apparatus as defined in claim 36 wherein said cornerless peripheral shapes are oval.

38. An apparatus as defined in claim 35 wherein said elongated support members include a first elongated support member that defines both of said loops.

39. An apparatus as defined in claim 38 wherein said elongated support members in said array consist of said first elongated support member and a plurality of additional elongated support members, each of which extends fully from said first elongated support member to said bottom portion of said vehicle seat frame.

40. An apparatus as defined in claim 35 wherein said array of elongated support members is installed on said vehicle seat frame in engagement with, and under tension between, four surrounding sides of said bottom portion of said vehicle seat frame.

41. An apparatus as defines in claim 35 wherein said elongated support members are rods.

42. An apparatus as defined in claim 35 wherein said support structure is free of fastening structures that fix said elongated support members to each other.