Trim and foam assembly for a vehicle seat

• US 9,649,963 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2014
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sidhu, Mandeep Singh, Hosbach, Christian J., Line, Johnathan Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Barfield, Anthony D
• Application Number:
  US14/196,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20150251579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 29745259, 29745218
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6009 covering more than only the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/64 Back-rests or cushions B60N2/2222 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/68 Seat frames
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/686 Panel like structures
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/70 Upholstery springs ; Upholstery
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7005 detachable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7011 of substantially two-dimensional shape, e.g. hammock-like, plastic shells, fabrics

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat frame disposed between an integrally formed back panel and an inner close-out panel. A cushion assembly is operably coupled to the inner close-out panel. A composite support member is substantially encompassed by the cushion assembly. The composite support member includes attachment members projecting rearwardly from inside the cushion assembly that engage with the inner close-out panel. The attachment members include snap-fit features disposed at a lower portion of the composite support member. Retaining rings are disposed at an upper portion of the composite support member. An upper trim piece extends over a top portion of the seat frame, the back panel, and the inner close-out panel.

Claims

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a seat frame disposed between an integrally formed back panel and an inner close-out panel, wherein the back panel includes forward hooks configured to engage hook-receiving apertures defined in the seat frame;

a cushion assembly operably coupled to the inner close-out panel;

a composite support member substantially encompassed by the cushion assembly, the composite support member including attachment members projecting rearwardly from inside the cushion assembly and engaged with the inner close-out panel, the attachment members including;

snap-fit features disposed at a lower portion of the composite support member; and

retaining rings disposed at an upper portion of the composite support member; and

an upper trim piece extending over a top portion of the seat frame, the back panel, and the inner close-out panel.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner close-out panel is securely engaged directly with the seat frame via mechanical fasteners.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein an upper portion of the inner close-out panel includes an indented portion configured to closely receive the upper trim piece.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the composite support member defines a large inner opening, and wherein a plurality of loops are integrally molded into the composite support member proximate the large inner opening.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner close-out panel includes a plurality of hooks, and wherein each of the plurality of hooks is configured to engage one loop.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of hooks includes multiple ribs that extend orthogonal to a loop receiving channel.

7. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a seat frame disposed between an integrally formed back panel and an inner close-out panel, wherein the back panel includes forward hooks configured to engage hook-receiving apertures defined in the seat frame;

a cushion assembly;

a composite support member substantially encompassed by the cushion assembly, the composite support member including attachment members projecting rearwardly from inside the cushion assembly and engaged with the inner close-out panel; and

an upper trim piece extending over a top portion of the seat frame, back panel, and inner close-out panel.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the inner close-out panel is securely engaged directly with the seat frame via mechanical fasteners.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein an upper portion of the inner close-out panel includes an indented portion configured to closely receive the upper trim piece.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the composite support member defines a large inner opening, and wherein a plurality of loops are integrally molded into the composite support member proximate the large inner opening.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7, wherein the inner close-out panel includes a plurality of retention hooks, and wherein each of the plurality of retention hooks is configured to engage one loop.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of retention hooks includes multiple ribs that extend orthogonal to a loop receiving channel.

13. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a cushion assembly;

a composite support member substantially encompassed by the cushion assembly and defining a large central opening, the composite support member further including engagement loops spaced peripherally around the large central opening and snap-fit connection features exposed through the cushion assembly and engaged with snap-fit connection features on an inner close-out panel;

a hard back panel operably coupled to the cushion assembly, wherein the hard back panel includes forward hooks configured to engage hook-receiving apertures defined in a seat frame; and

an upper trim piece extending over a top portion of the inner close-out panel.

14. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13, further comprising:

an inner close-out panel including an indented portion configured to closely receive the upper trim piece.

15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14, wherein the inner close-out panel includes a plurality of hooks and wherein each of the plurality of hooks is configured to engage one engagement loop.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13, wherein the composite support member includes a plurality of laterally extending securing rings encompassed by the cushion assembly.

17. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13, wherein the composite support member includes snap-fit features disposed at a lower portion of the composite support member and retaining rings disposed at an upper portion of the composite support member.