Seat cushion pan assembly

• US 9,994,134 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2016
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• 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 J., Setlur, Raghavan, Damerow, Robert, Arefi, Majid, Sidhu, Mandeep Singh, Guinn, Brandon
• Primary Examiner(s): Allred, David E
• Application Number:
  US15/097,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20160221483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• 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 support frame having a plurality of forwardly extending connection pins;

a flexible comfort carrier defining a support matrix of flexible sheet material comprising a multitude of lengthwise horizontal and lengthwise vertical hoops that define openings that expand and contract when loads are applied to the seat back via the flexible comfort carrier, the flexible comfort carrier generally defining a plane on a periphery thereof, the flexible comfort carrier including a plurality of keyhole slots located along the periphery of the flexible comfort carrier and configured to receive the plurality of forwardly extending connection pins, and the flexible comfort carrier defining a plurality of coverstock engagement through holes that are smaller than the keyhole slots and are positioned closer to edges of the flexible comfort carrier than the keyhole slots, wherein the plurality of keyhole slots and the plurality of coverstock engagement through holes are in the plane; and

a head restraint integrally formed with a single support post and that is operable between an upright use position and a folded-forward storage position.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the support frame includes substantially planar side portions.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the support frame includes a head restraint receiving assembly configured to receive the support post.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the support frame includes side portions with a plurality of slots configured to receive and retain one of a coverstock and a cushion.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of keyhole slots is surrounded by a reinforcement ring.

6. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a seat back including a polymeric body portion defining a forward support frame having a plurality of forwardly extending connection pins; and

a flexible comfort carrier disposed over a front surface of the polymeric body portion and including a support matrix of flexible sheet material comprising a multitude of lengthwise horizontal and lengthwise vertical hoops that define openings that expand and contract when loads are applied to the seat back via the flexible comfort carrier, the flexible comfort carrier generally defining a plane on a periphery thereof, the flexible comfort carrier also including a plurality of keyhole slots located along the periphery of the flexible comfort carrier and configured to receive the plurality of forwardly extending connection pins, and the flexible comfort carrier defining a plurality of coverstock engagement through holes that are smaller than the keyhole slots and are positioned closer to edges of the flexible comfort carrier than the keyhole slots, wherein the plurality of keyhole slots and the plurality of coverstock engagement through holes are in the plane.

7. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6, wherein the support frame includes substantially planar side portions.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6, wherein the support frame includes a head restraint receiving assembly configured to receive support a post having a generally planar construction.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6, wherein the support frame includes side portions with a plurality of slots configured to receive and retain one of a coverstock and a cushion.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of keyhole slots is surrounded by a reinforcement ring.