Seatback comfort carrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10166894-B2
Application number	US-201615178258-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2016
Priority date	Jun 9, 2016
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback. A back panel includes a front closeout panel. A carrier supports the seatback and includes an upper thoracic region having a peripheral support. A peripheral gap is defined between the front closeout panel and the upper thoracic region. A bottom portion of the upper thoracic region includes a lower wall having a sinusoidal configuration. A lower lumbar region includes a peripheral support. A peripheral gap is defined between the front closeout panel and the lower lumbar region. An upper portion of the lower lumbar region includes an upper wall having a sinusoidal configuration. A plurality of concave connectors couple the lower wall of the upper thoracic region with the upper wall of the lower lumbar region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seatback;
a back panel coupled with a front closeout panel; and
a carrier supporting the seatback and including:
an upper thoracic region including a peripheral support, wherein a peripheral gap is defined between the front closeout panel and the upper thoracic region, wherein a bottom portion of the upper thoracic region includes a lower wall having an undulating configuration;
a lower lumbar region including a peripheral support, wherein a peripheral gap is defined between the front closeout panel and the lower lumbar region, wherein an upper portion of the lower lumbar region includes an upper wall having an undulating configuration; and
a plurality of concave connectors that couple the lower wall of the upper thoracic region with the upper wall of the lower lumbar region.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the undulating configuration of the lower wall of the upper thoracic region is generally aligned with the undulating configuration of the upper wall of the lumbar region.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an air mover support disposed centrally in the upper thoracic region.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 3 , wherein the air mover support is directly coupled with the lower wall of the upper thoracic region.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a base wall defined by the lumbar region, the base wall including a slot that receives a retention tether of a seat cushion component.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
a rearwardly extending tab that extends from the base wall and which is engaged with an aperture defined in the retention tether.

7. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of slots defined by a U-shaped fold at a periphery of the upper thoracic region, the plurality of slots configured to retain a trim piece connector; and
a retention nub proximate each slot and disposed inside the U-shaped fold.

8. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a carrier adjacent a front closeout panel and supporting a seatback, the carrier including:
a thoracic region defining a peripheral gap between the front closeout panel and the thoracic region, a lower wall of the thoracic region including an undulating configuration; and
a lumbar region defining a peripheral gap between the front closeout panel and the lumbar region, an upper wall of the lumbar region including an undulating configuration.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8 , wherein the undulating configuration of the lower wall of the upper thoracic region is generally aligned with the undulating configuration of the upper wall of the lumbar region.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
an air mover support disposed centrally in the upper thoracic region.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 10 , wherein the air mover support is directly coupled with the lower wall of the upper thoracic region.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
a base wall defined by the lumbar region, the base wall including a slot that receives a retention tether of a seat cushion component.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 12 , further comprising:
a rearwardly extending tab that extends from the base wall and which is engaged with an aperture defined in the retention tether.

14. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
a plurality of slots defined by a U-shaped fold at a periphery of the upper thoracic region, the plurality of slots configured to retain a trim piece connector; and
a retention nub proximate each slot and disposed inside the U-shaped fold.

15. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a back panel coupled with a front closeout panel;
a carrier supporting a seatback and including:
a thoracic region including a lower wall having an undulating configuration; and
a lumbar region including an upper wall having an undulating configuration and a lower wall with retention slots configured to receive a cushion attachment tether removably secured with an engagement post,

a plurality of slots defined by a U-shaped fold at a periphery of the upper thoracic region, the plurality of slots configured to retain a trim piece connector; and
a retention nub proximate each slot and disposed inside the U-shaped fold.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 15 , wherein the undulating configuration of the lower wall of the upper thoracic region is generally aligned with the undulating configuration of the upper wall of the lumbar region.

17. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
an air mover support disposed centrally in the upper thoracic region.

18. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 17 , wherein the air mover support is directly coupled with the lower wall of the upper thoracic region.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Line Johnathan Andrew
• Kondrad Marcos Silva
• Soyka Jr Richard Joseph
• Ferretti Daniel
• Berry S M Akbar
• Billardello Nicholas Alphonse

Classifications

• B60N2/643 Primary

  shape of the back-rests (B60N2/66 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/68 Primary

  Seat frames · CPC title

• B60N2/70

  Upholstery springs {; Upholstery} · CPC title

• B60N2/5621

  by air · CPC title

• B60N2/686

  Panel like structures · CPC title