Seat cushion assembly

• US 9,340,162 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2013
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Line, Johnathan Andrew, Osterhoff, Daniel Jay, Setlur, Raghavan, Damerow, Robert, Arefi, Majid, Sidhu, Mandeep Singh, Guinn, Brandon
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIACOMAN, YOLANDA G.
• Application Number:
  US13/932,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20150001899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.15, 297/188.04, 297/452.18, 297/452.59, 297/218.1, 297/218.5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4263 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/66 Lumbar supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/68 Seat frames
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/686 Panel like structures
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7035 Cushions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/856 movable to an inoperative or stowed position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/874 movable to an inoperative or stowed position B60N2/832, B60N2/856 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/043 mounted on or under a seat

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly having a seat back including a polymeric body portion defining a support frame having a plurality of forwardly extending connection pins disposed about a periphery of a forward surface of the support frame. A flexible comfort carrier is disposed over a front surface of the polymeric body portion and includes a multitude of openings defining a support matrix configured to support the weight of a passenger. The body portion includes a plurality of slots configured to receive and engage the plurality of forwardly extending connection pins. A cushion layer extends over the flexible comfort carrier. A head restraint extends upwardly from the forward support frame.

Claims

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a seat back including a polymeric body portion defining a support frame having a plurality of forwardly extending connection pins disposed about a periphery of a forward surface of the support frame;

a flexible comfort carrier disposed over a front surface of the polymeric body portion and including a multitude of openings defining a support matrix configured to support the weight of a passenger, the flexible comfort carrier including a plurality of slots disposed about a periphery of multiple sides of the flexible comfort carrier and that are configured to receive and engage the plurality of forwardly extending connection pins;

a cushion layer extending over the flexible comfort carrier, the cushion layer having engagement fasteners operably coupled with forward opening coverstock engagement holes of the comfort carrier; and

a head restraint extending upwardly from the support frame.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the head restraint is fixedly attached to the seat back.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the support frame includes a front surface having a plurality of peripheral planar portions.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 3, wherein one connection pin extends from each of the plurality of planar portions.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4, wherein the plurality of slots in the flexible comfort carrier are generally formed as keyhole slots, wherein each of the keyhole slots is configured to align with and engage one of the connection pins.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4, wherein the flexible comfort carrier includes a multitude of horizontal and vertical hoops that define openings and which expand and contract when a load is applied to the seat back.

7. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the headrest is rotatable between a use position, wherein the downwardly extending support post extends into the seat back, and a storage position, wherein the downwardly extending support post is withdrawn from the seat back and rotated forward such that the head restraint extends substantially orthogonal to the seat back.

8. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a seat back including a polymeric body portion that includes cupholders and a storage bin on a backside thereof, and that defines a support frame with substantially linear vertically-extending side portions and a plurality of forwardly extending connection pins disposed about a periphery of a forward surface of the support frame; and

a flexible comfort carrier disposed over a front surface of the polymeric body portion and including a multitude of openings defining a support matrix configured to support the weight of a passenger;

a plurality of keyhole slots defined about a periphery of the flexible comfort carrier and configured to receive and engage the plurality of forwardly extending connection pins;

a cushion layer extending over the flexible comfort carrier, the cushion layer having engagement fasteners operably coupled with forward opening coverstock engagement holes of the comfort carrier; and

a headrest support post extending into the network of horizontal and vertical support flanges.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, wherein the cupholders and storage bin are integrally formed in a hard back cover.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, wherein the support frame includes substantially planar side portions.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, wherein the support frame includes a head restraint receiving assembly configured to receive support post having a generally planar construction.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, wherein the support frame includes side portions with a plurality of slots configured to receive and retain one of a coverstock and a cushion.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, wherein the flexible comfort carrier includes a multitude of horizontal and vertical hoops that define openings and which expand and contract when a load is applied to the seat back.

14. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, wherein the support frame includes a multitude of vertically and horizontally extending support flanges that provide increased structural rigidity and overall strength to the support frame.