Seat support structure and a seat structure including the seat support structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10967771-B2
Application number	US-201615573949-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2016
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

A seat support structure including an elastomeric panel. The elastomeric panel positions and supports a seated occupant. The panel is constrained on a forward side and a rearward side.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seat cushion comprising:
an elastomeric panel, wherein said elastomeric panel positions and supports a seated occupant, wherein said panel is constrained on a forward side and a rearward side of the seat cushion with respect to a traveling direction of a vehicle, said elastomeric panel comprising an elastomeric portion, a first lateral elastomeric portion and a second lateral elastomeric portion, said elastomeric portion being located between said first lateral elastomeric portion and said second lateral elastomeric portion, said elastomeric portion being movable relative to said first lateral elastomeric portion and said second lateral elastomeric portion, said first lateral elastomeric portion, said second lateral elastomeric portion and said elastomeric portion being integrally connected to define a one-piece elastomeric panel, said first lateral elastomeric portion and said second lateral elastomeric portion defining at least a portion of an outer periphery of said one-piece elastomeric panel, at least one of said first lateral elastomeric portion and said second lateral elastomeric portion providing support to an occupant during ingress and egress and said at least one of said first lateral elastomeric portion and said second lateral elastomeric portion deflecting in a torsional manner to support the occupant;
wherein said elastomeric panel is constrained on said forward side of said seat cushion by a first support structure that receives a first portion of said elastomeric panel therein and on said rearward side of said seat cushion by a second support structure that receives a second portion of said panel therein;
wherein said elastomeric portion of said elastomeric panel is made from at least one thermoplastic elastomer, and
wherein said elastomeric portion of said elastomeric panel has a first area, a second area, and a third area, wherein an amount of displacement of said first area when a load is applied is greater than at least one of an amount of displacement of said second area and an amount of displacement of said third area, wherein said amount of displacement of said third area when said load is applied is less than at least one of said amount of displacement of said first area and said amount of displacement of said second area, and wherein said amount of displacement of said second area is at least one of less than said amount of displacement of said first area when said load is applied and greater than said amount of displacement of said third area when the load is applied.

2. A seat cushion in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said elastomeric panel is further constrained from an inboard side of the seat cushion and an outboard side of the seat cushion.

3. A seat cushion in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a foam pad, wherein a rate of deflection of said first lateral elastomeric portion and said second lateral elastomeric portion is less than a rate of deflection of said elastomeric portion.

4. A seat cushion in accordance with claim 3 , further comprising a trim cover, said first lateral elastomeric portion comprising a first side bolster, said second lateral elastomeric portion comprising a second side bolster.

5. A seat cushion in accordance with claim 4 , wherein said trim cover comprises an attachment means for attachment to said elastomeric panel, said first side bolster and said second side bolster being at an angle relative to said elastomeric portion, wherein said first side bolster, said angle not being equal to zero.

6. A seat cushion in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said elastomeric panel and said attachment means are unitary, formed of the same material in a single forming operation.

7. A seat cushion in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said foam pad comprises an opening and said trim cover attachment means extend through said opening, wherein said trim cover attachment means is attached to said elastomeric panel.

8. A seat cushion in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said elastomeric panel comprises an attachment means for attachment to a seat structure.

9. A seat cushion in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said elastomeric panel and said attachment means are unitary.

10. A seat cushion in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said elastomeric panel and said attachment means are formed of the same material in a single forming operation.

11. A seat cushion in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a thickness of said elastomeric panel is less than 5 millimeters.

12. A seat structure comprising:
an elastomeric panel for supporting a seated occupant, said elastomeric panel comprising an elastomeric portion, a first lateral elastomeric portion and a second lateral elastomeric portion, said elastomeric portion being located between said first lateral elastomeric portion and said second lateral elastomeric portion, said elastomeric portion being movable relative to said first lateral elastomeric portion and said second lateral elastomeric portion, said first lateral elastomeric portion, said second lateral elastomeric portion and said elastomeric portion being integrally connected to define a one-piece elastomeric panel, said first lateral elastomeric portion and said second lateral elastomeric portion defining at least a portion of an outer periphery of said one-piece elastomeric panel, at least one of said first lateral elastomeric portion and said second lateral elastomeric portion providing support to an occupant during ingress and egress and said at least one of said first lateral elastomeric portion and said second lateral elastomeric portion deflecting in a torsional manner to support the occupant;
a first elastomeric panel support component;
a second elastomeric panel support component, wherein said elastomeric panel is supported on a forward side thereof via said first elastomeric panel support component and said elastomeric panel is supported on a rearward side thereof via said second elastomeric panel support component with respect to a traveling direction of a vehicle;
wherein said first elastomeric panel support component is comprised of a projecting portion unitary with said elastomeric panel that is received within an opening in a first support structure;
wherein said second elastomeric panel support component is comprised of a projecting portion unitary with said elastomeric panel that is received within an opening in a second support structure; and
wherein said elastomeric portion of said elastomeric panel includes a plurality of rib members formed therein, wherein said rib members extend in a front-to-rear direction of said elastomeric portion, and wherein said rib members are in tension when a load is applied.

13. A seat structure in accordance with claim 12 , further comprising:
a third elastomeric panel support component;
a fourth elastomeric panel support component, wherein said elastomeric panel is supported on a first lateral side via said third elastomeric panel support component and said elastomeric panel is supported on a second lateral side via said fourth elastomeric panel support component, said first lateral side and said second lateral side extending parallel to the traveling direction, said rearward side and said forward side extending perpendicular to the traveling direction, said first elastomeric panel support component and said second elastomeric panel support component defining a longitudinal support structure, said third elastomeric panel support component and said fourth elastomeric panel support component defining a lateral support structure; and
an interconnecting means between the longitudinal support structure and the lateral support structure for allowing

Assignees

• Adient Luxembourg Holding Sarl
• Adient Luxembourg Holding S Ar L

Inventors

• Seibold Kurt

Classifications

• B60N2/7094

  Upholstery springs · CPC title

• B60N2/7005

  detachable · CPC title

• A47C7/16

  Seats made of wooden, plastics, or metal sheet material; Panel seats · CPC title

• B60N2/70

  Upholstery springs {; Upholstery} · CPC title

• B60N2/58

  Seat coverings · CPC title