Seat back of hybrid construction and a process for forming a seat back of hybrid construction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10214126-B2
Application number	US-201515302797-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2015
Priority date	May 27, 2014
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

An overmolded seat back structure having a connecting surface for supporting a support panel and a process for forming a seat back structure via an overmolding process.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A process, comprising:
forming a connecting surface for a supporting panel via an overmolding process;
providing a first side member, a second side member, a lower cross member and an upwardly projecting slide configured for supporting a headrest;
assembling and interconnecting said first side member, said second side member, said lower cross member and said headrest sliding surface via an overmolding material in said overmolding process to form a seat back structure, said seat back structure comprising said connecting surface;
wherein said overmolding process forms an overmolded seat back structure, said overmolded seat back structure comprising said upwardly projecting slide, and wherein said upwardly projecting slide is formed of a material different from the overmolding material.

2. A process in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:
providing an inverted lower cross member, said inverted lower cross member defining at least a portion of said connecting surface.

3. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein one or more of said first side member, said second side member, said lower cross member and said headrest sliding surface are reinforced with overmold via said overmolding process.

4. A process in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a strap;
connecting said strap to said support panel.

5. A process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said supporting panel is formed in one piece, said one piece supporting panel being connected to said overmolded seat back structure.

6. A process, comprising:
providing a plurality of separate seat back elements;
connecting said plurality of seat back elements via an overmolding material in an overmolding process to form a seat back structure, said seat back structure comprising a connecting means for connecting a support panel;
wherein said plurality of seat back elements comprise a headrest slide structure formed of a different material than the overmolding material, said headrest slide structure being integrally connected to said overmolded seat back member to form said seat back structure by said overmolding process with an integrally connected headrest slide structure, said headrest slide structure comprising a projection to define a male connection portion configured for slidably supporting a headrest.

7. A process in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said plurality of seat back elements comprises a first member, a second member and a cross member, wherein an overmolded seat back member is formed via said overmolding process, said first member being connected to said second member via said overmolded member.

8. A process in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said overmolded seat back member is formed of a material that is different from a material of said first member, said second member and said cross member.

9. A process in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said cross member comprises a first cross member portion, a second cross member portion and a third cross member portion, said first cross member portion being connected to said second cross member portion via said third cross member portion, said first cross member portion and said second cross member portion extending in a direction of a floor of a vehicle, said first cross member portion, said second cross member portion and said third cross member portion defining an opening facing in a direction of the floor of the vehicle to define an inverted cross member structure.

10. A process in accordance with claim 7 , wherein one or more of said first member, said second member, said cross member and said overmolded seat back member are reinforced with said overmolded material via said overmolding process.

11. A process in accordance with claim 6 , further comprising:
a strap connected to said seat back structure.

12. A process in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said support panel is a one-piece support panel, said one-piece support panel being connected to said seat back structure.

13. A seat comprising:
an overmolded seat back structure comprising an interfacing surface for supporting a support panel;
wherein said overmolded seat back structure comprises a first lateral member, a second lateral member, an overmolded member of an overmolding material and a cross member, said first lateral member being connected to said second lateral member via said overmolded member; and
wherein said overmolded seat back structure comprises a slide element, said slide element formed of a material different from the overmolding material and being integrally connected to said overmolded member to define a single seat back structure with an integrally connected slide configured for supporting a headrest, said slide element comprising an upwardly projecting slide surface for connection with the headrest, wherein overmolded material engages and interconnects said slide element with one or more of said first lateral member, said second lateral member and said cross member to define one or more overmolded reinforced seat back parts.

14. A seat in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the interfacing surface defines a mechanical interface to attach said support panel.

15. A seat in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the interfacing surface defines one of a bonding interface and a thermobonding interface to attach said support panel.

16. A seat in accordance with claim 13 , further comprising:
a strap connected to said overmolded seat back structure.

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co
• Adient Luxembourg Holding Sarl

Inventors

• Seibold Kurt
• Kienke Ingo

Classifications

• B60N2/809

  vertically slidable · CPC title

• B60N2/686

  Panel like structures · CPC title

• B29L2031/30

  Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof {(vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027)} · CPC title

• B29C45/14475

  Joining juxtaposed parts of a single article, e.g. edges of a folded container blank · CPC title

• B60N2/68 Primary

  Seat frames · CPC title