Seat suspension with three-dimensional features for improved occupant comfort

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10682934-B2
Application number	US-201816130221-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2018
Priority date	Sep 13, 2018
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

A seat assembly for supporting an occupant of a vehicle includes a cushion and a suspension. The cushion has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is configured to engage the occupant. The second surface is disposed opposite the first surface. The suspension includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a third surface. The third surface engages the second surface of the cushion. The second portion includes a fourth surface. The fourth surface defines a first depression. The first depression opens toward the cushion. The first depression is configured to receive a portion of the cushion when the occupant exerts a load on the cushion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seat assembly for supporting an occupant of a vehicle, the seat assembly comprising:
a cushion having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being configured to engage the occupant, and the second surface being disposed opposite the first surface; and
a suspension including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including a third surface engaging the second surface of the cushion, and the second portion including a fourth surface defining a plurality of depressions, the plurality of depressions opening toward the cushion and being configured to receive a portion of the cushion when the occupant exerts a load on the cushion.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the first portion includes a textile material.

3. The seat assembly of claim 2 , wherein the textile material includes at least one of a knitted structure, a woven structure, a crocheted structure, or a braided structure.

4. The seat assembly of claim 2 wherein:
the first portion includes a first knitted structure; and
the second portion includes a second knitted structure, the second knitted structure being different than the first knitted structure.

5. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the second portion includes a textile material.

6. The seat assembly of claim 5 , wherein the textile material includes at least one of a knitted structure, a woven structure, a crocheted structure, or a braided structure.

7. The seat assembly of claim 6 , wherein:
the textile material includes the knitted structure; and
the knitted structure is a three-dimensional (3D) knitted structure.

8. The seat assembly of claim 6 wherein:
the second portion includes the knitted structure; and
the knitted structure includes a plurality of ribs.

9. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the second portion includes an elastomer.

10. The seat assembly of claim 9 wherein the first portion includes the elastomer.

11. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the first portion is configured to provide a first response to the load; and
the second portion is configured to provide a second response to the load, the second response being different than the first response.

12. The seat assembly of claim 11 wherein:
the first response includes at least one of a stiffness response, an energy dissipation response, and a thermal response; and
the second response includes at least one of a stiffness response, an energy dissipation response, and a thermal response.

13. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of depressions includes a primary depression and a secondary depression, the secondary depression being further recessed with respect to the cushion than the primary depression.

14. A seat assembly for supporting an occupant of a vehicle, the seat assembly comprising:
a cushion having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being configured to engage the occupant, and the second surface being disposed opposite the first surface; and
a suspension including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including a third surface engaging the second surface of the cushion, and the second portion including a fourth surface, at least a portion of the fourth surface being spaced apart from the second surface of the cushion to define a gap, wherein at least one of the first portion or the second portion includes a textile.

15. The seat assembly of claim 14 wherein the suspension further includes a third portion including a fifth surface defining a second depression, the second depression being open toward the cushion and configured to receive a portion of the cushion when the occupant exerts a load on the cushion.

16. The seat assembly of claim 14 wherein:
the first portion includes a first textile having at least one of a first knitted structure, a first woven structure, a first crocheted structure, and a first braided structure; and
the second portion includes a second textile having at least one of a second knitted structure, a second woven structure, a second crocheted structure, and a second braided structure.

17. The seat assembly of claim 16 wherein:
the second textile includes the second knitted structure; and
the second knitted structure is a three-dimensional (3D) knitted structure.

18. The seat assembly of claim 14 wherein:
the first portion is configured to provide a first response to the occupant exerting a load on the cushion; and
the second portion is configured to provide a second response to the load, the second response being different than the first response.

19. A seat assembly for supporting an occupant of a vehicle, the seat assembly comprising:
a cushion having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being configured to engage the occupant, and the second surface being disposed opposite the first surface; and
a suspension including a first knitted portion and a second knitted portion, the first knitted portion including a third surface engaging the second surface of the cushion, and the second knitted portion having a three-dimensional (3D) knitted structure and including a fourth surface defining a depression, the depression being open toward the cushion and configured to receive a portion of the cushion when the occupant exerts a load on the cushion, wherein:
the first knitted portion is configured to provide a first response to the occupant exerting a load on the cushion; and
the second knitted portion is configured to provide a second response to the load, the second response being different than the first response.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Mankame Nilesh D
• Akolkar Onkar
• Booth Daniel W
• Alexander Paul W

Classifications

• B60N2/548

  Torsion springs, e.g. torsion helicoidal springs · CPC title

• B60N2/544

  Compression or tension springs (B60N2/542 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/54

  using mechanical springs · CPC title

• B60N2/504 Primary

  attached to the base and the backrest · CPC title

• B60N2/68

  Seat frames · CPC title