Map pocket assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10246022-B2
Application number	US-201715668576-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 3, 2017
Priority date	Nov 17, 2016
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

A map pocket assembly is provided with a seat back panel adapted to attach to a seat back, a map pocket panel coupled to the seat back panel and moveable between a closed position and an open position relative to the seat back panel to define a pocket opening therebetween, and a spring arm coupling the seat back panel to the map pocket panel to bias the map pocket panel to the closed position. The spring arm has first and second spring fingers extending from a spring base coupled to one of the seat back panel and the map pocket panel. The first and second spring fingers are moved to a spring angle relative to each other when the map pocket panel is moved to the open position that is greater than the spring angle when the map pocket panel is in the closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A map pocket assembly comprising:
a seat back panel adapted to attach to a seat back;
a map pocket panel coupled to the seat back panel and moveable between a closed position and an open position relative to the seat back panel to define a pocket opening therebetween; and
a pair of spring arms coupling the seat back panel to the map pocket panel to bias the map pocket panel to the closed position, each spring arm having first and second spring fingers extending from a spring base, the spring base coupled to one of the seat back panel and the map pocket panel, a free end of the first spring finger coupled to the seat back panel and a free end of the second spring finger coupled to the map pocket panel,
wherein the free ends of the first and second spring fingers of each spring arm are spaced from each other in a lateral direction and are moved to an open spring angle in a fore-aft direction relative to each other when the map pocket panel is moved to the open position, wherein the open spring angle is greater than a closed spring angle when the map pocket panel is in the closed position.

2. The map pocket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring base is coupled to the map pocket panel such that the spring base travels a fore-aft distance with the map pocket panel between the closed and open positions, and the first spring finger is preformed to define a first finger arc to bias one of a top and bottom portion of the map pocket panel to the closed position such that the spring base applies a first force to one of the top and bottom portions of the seat back panel in the closed position.

3. The map pocket assembly of claim 2 , wherein the free end of the second spring finger opposite the spring base applies a second force to the other of the top and bottom portions of the seat back panel in the closed position and moves independently of the free end of the first spring finger opposite the spring base in the open position, the free end of the first spring finger being coupled to the seat back panel.

4. The map pocket assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second spring finger is preformed to define a second finger arc to bias the other of the top and bottom portion of the map pocket panel to the closed position.

5. The map pocket assembly of claim 2 , wherein in the closed position, the first spring finger conforms to a profile of the seat back panel, and in the open position, the first spring finger is curved in a direction opposite of the first finger arc.

6. The map pocket assembly of claim 1 , wherein a height of the second spring finger is less than a height of the first spring finger.

7. The map pocket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring arm further comprises a third spring finger hinged together at the spring base with the first and second spring fingers, thereby defining a pair of outer spring fingers and a center spring finger, wherein the third spring finger prevents twisting of the spring base relative to the map pocket panel.

8. The map pocket assembly of claim 7 , wherein the third spring finger is coupled to the seat back panel, and wherein the third spring finger is preformed to define a third finger arc to bias the map pocket panel to the closed position.

9. The map pocket assembly of claim 7 , wherein the third spring finger is preformed to define a third finger arc to bias the map pocket panel to the closed position, wherein the first, second, and third spring fingers are spaced from one another in the lateral direction.

10. The map pocket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the free end of the first spring arm is coupled to a top portion of the map pocket panel.

11. A vehicle seat comprising: a seat back; and the map pocket assembly of claim 1 .

12. A vehicle seat comprising: a seat back panel; a map pocket panel coupled to the seat back panel and moveable between a closed position and an open position; and a first spring arm hinged to the seat back panel at a hinge end and coupled to the map pocket panel at a free end such that the free end moves with the map pocket panel between the closed and open positions, the first spring arm being preformed to define a first spring arm arc thereby biasing the map pocket panel to the closed position, wherein in the closed position the first spring arm conforms to a profile of the seat back panel, and wherein in the open position, the first spring arm is curved in a direction opposite of the first spring arm arc.

13. The vehicle seat of claim 12 , wherein the free end of the first spring arm applies a first force to the seat back panel in the closed position.

14. The vehicle seat of claim 12 , wherein the free end of the first spring arm is coupled to a top portion of the map pocket panel.

15. The vehicle seat of claim 14 , further comprising a second spring arm disposed proximate the first spring arm, wherein the second spring arm is hinged to the seat back panel at a hinge end and coupled to a bottom portion of the map pocket panel at a free end such that the free end of the second spring arm moves with the bottom portion of the map pocket panel between the closed and open positions, and the second spring arm is preformed to define a second spring arm arc thereby biasing the map pocket panel to the closed position and applying a second force to the seat back panel in the closed position.

16. The vehicle seat of claim 12 , further comprising a second spring arm spaced apart in a lateral direction from the first spring arm.

17. The vehicle seat of claim 12 , wherein the hinge end of the first spring arm is disposed proximate a bottom portion of the map pocket panel.

18. A vehicle seat comprising: a seat back panel; a map pocket panel coupled to the seat back panel and having a top edge and a bottom edge each moveable between a closed position and an open position relative to the seat back panel to define a map pocket opening therebetween; and a support arm coupled to the seat back panel at a first end and coupled to the map pocket panel at a second end to maintain a fore-aft opening distance of the bottom edge of the map pocket panel generally perpendicular to the seat back panel when the bottom edge is in the open position.

19. The vehicle seat of claim 18 , further comprising a first elastic member connected between the seat back panel and the map pocket panel adjacent the top edge thereby biasing the top edge of the map pocket panel to the closed position.

20. The vehicle seat of claim 19 , further comprising a second elastic member connected between the seat back panel and the map pocket panel adjacent the bottom edge thereby biasing the bottom edge of the map pocket panel to the closed position, wherein each of the first and second elastic members are disposed along opposite lateral sides of the map pocket panel.

Assignees

• Lear Corp

Inventors

• Perrin Philippe
• Diefenthaler Florian
• Levy Leonard

Classifications

• B60N2/64

  Back-rests {or cushions (B60N2/2222 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R7/00

  Stowing or holding appliances inside vehicle primarily intended for personal property smaller than suit-cases, e.g. travelling articles, or maps (for radio sets, television sets, telephones or the like, mounting of cameras operative during drive, tools, or spare parts B60R11/00; for receptacles for refuse, food, beverages, cigarettes B60N) · CPC title

• B60N2/90

  Details or parts not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60R7/005 Primary

  Nets or elastic pockets tensioned against walls or backrests · CPC title