Vehicle Seat Assembly System

• US 20070018488A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milsco, LLC (Jason Industries, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Milsco Manufacturing Company (Jason Industries, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hein, Scott, Farchione, Mark, Soltis, Lara, Sinur, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,837,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/195.120
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/12 Box-shaped seats; Bench-type seats, e.g. dual or twin seats
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/481 Method

Abstract

A seat assembly constructed according to the present invention provides a seat assembly having a cover that is quickly and easily connected to the seat base. The tool and fastener free connection of the seat cover with the seat base provides for a convenient, repeatable, and secure connection of the seat cover with the seat base. A seat assembly constructed according to the present invention also provides for the convenient and expeditious connection of a plurality of seat assembly elements. The fastener free connection between the multiple components of the seat assembly provides for the economical manufacture and assembly of the seat assembly. Such a construction provides a multi-piece seat assembly wherein the components of the seat assembly can be connected without fasteners and without tools.

Claims

1. A seat assembly comprising:

a cover having a gusset;

a plurality of openings formed in the gusset; and

a base constructed to be disposed between the cover and the gusset and having a plurality of protrusions which extend therefrom, each protrusion constructed to engage one of the plurality of openings to secure the cover to the base.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a cushion disposed between the base and the cover and compressed when the cover is secured to the base.

3. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover is toollessly connected to the base.

4. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover is connected to the base without a fastener.

5. The seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a recess formed in a rear-facing end of the base.

6. The seat assembly of claim 5 further comprising a bracket having a projection constructed to snap-fittingly engage the recess.

7. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the seat is a motorcycle seat.

8. A seat assembly comprising:

a base having a plurality of hooks which project therefrom;

a pad positioned about a side of the base;

a cover tensioned over the pad and engaged with the plurality of the hooks.

9. The seat assembly of claim 8 wherein each hook has a generally circular cross-section.

10. The seat assembly of claim 9 wherein each hook extends inboard from a perimeter of the base.

11. The seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the base includes a channel positioned about each hook.

12. The seat assembly of claim 10 further comprising a generally uniform shank extending from the base to a tip of each hook.

13. The seat assembly of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of openings formed in the cover, each opening positioned to generally align with at least one of the plurality of hooks, and be toollessly connected thereto.

14. The seat assembly of claim 8 further comprising a connection bracket toollessly connectable the base.

15. The seat assembly of claim 14 wherein the connection bracket includes a plurality of openings forming therein, each opening constructed to engage a boss extending from the base.

16. The seat assembly of claim 15 further comprising a slot generally bifurcating the boss.

17. The seat assembly of claim 15 further comprising a barb extending from a distal end of the boss.

18. The seat assembly of claim 17 wherein the barb is constructed to engage a surface of the connection bracket generally transverse to a direction of engagement of the connection bracket with the base.

19. The seat assembly of claim 17 wherein the boss includes a tapered end and is slideably engaged in the opening.

20. The seat assembly of claim 8 constructed to engage a motorcycle.

21. A method of assembling a seat comprising the steps of:

(A) compressing a cushion between a base and a cover;

(B) toollessly hooking a plurality of openings in the cover to the base; and

(C) releasing the compression of the cushion to generally uniformly tension the cover over the base.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of repeating steps (A) through (C) for a plurality of seats.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of forming the base of at least one of urethane, polypropylene, polyethylene, metal, and fiberglass.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of at least one of injection molding the base and thermoforming the base.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of forming the cover of at least one of leather, vinyl, and fabric.

26. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of forming a channel in an end of the base to snap-fittingly engage a connector bracket.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of forming a pin in the channel to engage an opening in the connector bracket.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of forming a taper at an end of the pin to deflect the pin as the connector bracket is translated relative thereto.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of translating the connector bracket in a first direction relative to the base and translating the tab in a second direction generally transverse to the first direction to engage the pin with the opening.

51. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of integrally forming at least one hook with the base.

30. A motorcycle seat assembly comprising:

a seat having a first end with a tab extending therefrom and a second end with a pocket formed thereat; and

a connection bracket connected to a second end of the seat without a fastener.

31. The motorcycle seat assembly of claim 30 further comprising a projection extending from the connection bracket constructed to engage the pocket.

32. The motorcycle seat assembly of claim 31 further comprising an opening formed in the projection and a pin extending into the pocket constructed to snuggly engage the opening.

33. The motorcycle seat assembly of claim 31 wherein the projection is slideable in a first direction and the pin is slideable in a second direction relative to the pocket.

34. The motorcycle seat assembly of claim 31 further comprising another projection extending from the connection bracket and another pocket formed on the seat.

35. The motorcycle seat assembly of claim 34 wherein the projection and the another projection and the pocket and another pocket are generally aligned.

36. The motorcycle seat assembly of claim 34 wherein the projection and another projection and the pocket and another pocket are generally mirror images, respectively.

37. The motorcycle seat assembly of claim 30 further comprising a cover constructed to be toollessly connected to the seat.

38. The motorcycle seat assembly of claim 37 further comprising a plurality of hooks extending from the seat and a plurality of openings formed in the cover, the openings constructed to engage the hooks to tension the cover across the seat.

39. The motorcycle seat assembly of claim 38 wherein the openings are offset from an edge of the cover.

40. A multi-person motorcycle seat assembly comprising:

a first seat constructed to support an operator; and

a second seat constructed to support a passenger;

a connector bracket constructed to snap-fittingly engage one of the first seat and the second seat and be secured to a motorcycle.

41. The seat assembly of claim 40 further comprising a pocket formed on one of the first seat and the second seat and a tab formed on the connector bracket constructed to engage the pocket and be retained therein without an additional fastener.

42. The seat assembly of claim 41 further comprising another pocket formed on the same seat as the pocket and another tab formed on the connector bracket and constructed to engage the another pocket.

43. The seat assembly of claim 41 further comprising a projection extending at least one of into the pocket and from the tab and a hole formed in another of the pocket and the tab.

44. The seat assembly of claim 43 wherein the projection is constructed to snuggly engage the hole.

45. The seat assembly of claim 43 wherein the tab is translatable relative to the pocket and the projection deflects about the tab.

46. The seat assembly of claim 40 further comprising a cover disposed across one of the first seat and the second seat and snapfittingly connected thereto.

47. The seat assembly of claim 46 wherein the cover further comprises a plurality of openings formed therein constructed to directly engage a plurality of hooks extending from the one of the first seat and the second seat.

48. The seat assembly of claim 47 wherein the plurality of openings are offset from a perimeter of the cover a distance sufficient to withstand a loaded tension of the cover.

49. The seat assembly of claim 47 wherein each of the plurality of hooks includes a generally curvilinear cross-section.

50. The seat assembly of claim 40 further comprising a plurality of hooks extending from an underside of one of the first seat and the seat and constructed to toollessly secure a cover thereto.