Seating assembly bracket

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11046213-B2
Application number	US-201916242205-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2019
Priority date	Jan 8, 2019
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback having a base. A reclining portion is pivotably coupled to the base at first and second attachment points and includes first and second longitudinal members. A panel is disposed between the first and second longitudinal members. A cross member extends between the first and second attachment points. A bracket is coupled to the panel and is disposed between the panel and the cross member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seatback including a base; and
a reclining portion pivotably coupled to the base at first and second attachment points and including:
first and second longitudinal members;
a panel disposed between the first and second longitudinal members;
a cross member extending between the first and second attachment points; and
a bracket coupled to the panel and disposed between the panel and the cross member, wherein the bracket includes an elongated channel having a curved portion, wherein the cross member is disposed in the curved portion of the elongated channel, wherein the bracket is fixedly coupled to the panel, wherein the bracket and the reclining portion are positionable between an upright position and a reclined position, wherein the bracket includes a first mounting area and a second mounting area, wherein the elongated channel is disposed between the first mounting area and the second mounting area, wherein the first mounting area and the second mounting area include respective first and second flanges configured to attach the bracket to the panel, wherein an axis extends between the first and second attachment points, wherein the reclining portion is pivotable around the axis, wherein the cross member defines the axis, and wherein the cross member does not contact the bracket when the reclining portion is in the upright position and when the reclining portion is in the reclined position.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second attachment points includes a locking mechanism configured to retain the reclining portion in the upright position, the reclined position, and one or more intermittent positions between the upright position and the reclined position.

3. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seatback;
a cross member disposed between first and second longitudinal members of the seatback;
a panel extending between the first and second longitudinal members of the seatback;
a bracket partially surrounding the cross member and including:
a mounting portion having first and second mounting areas extending substantially parallel to the cross member and configured to secure the bracket to the panel; and
a recess for receiving the cross member, wherein at least one of the first and second mounting areas includes a distance substantially parallel to the cross member, wherein the distance substantially parallel to the cross member defines the greatest dimension of the at least one of the first and second mounting areas; and first and second rotatry locking mechanisms secured to the first and second longitudinal members of the seatback and operably coupled with first and second ends of the cross member, wherein the seatback comprises a base and a reclining portion, and wherein the reclining portion of the seatback is rotatable about an axis extending between the first and second rotary locking mechanisms.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first mounting area and the second mounting area are disposed on opposing sides of the cross member.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 4 , wherein the recess includes a U-shaped cross-section.

6. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a bracket mounted to a seatback and including:
first and second mounting areas;
first and second extension portions extending away from the respective first and second mounting areas;
first and second shielding portions extending inwardly from the first and second extension portions; and
a curved portion disposed between the first and second shielding portions, wherein the curved portion defines a recess receiving a cross member, wherein the first mounting area includes a first flange, wherein the second mounting area includes a second flange, wherein the first flange includes a first length, wherein the second flange includes a second length, and wherein the first length of the first flange is less than the second length of the second flange.

7. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first extension portion includes a first length of the first extension portion, wherein the second extension portion includes a second length of the second extension portion, and wherein the first length of the first extension portion is less than the second length of the second extension portion.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first shielding portion includes a first width, wherein the second shielding portion includes a second width, and wherein the first width of the first shielding portion is less than the second width of the second shielding portion.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 6 , wherein the recess is further defined by a line tangential to the first and second shielding portions and wherein the cross member is disposed between the line tangential to the first and second shielding portions and a line tangential to the curved portion.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Caldwell Clayton
• Chieu Cung K
• Kish Joseph Michael
• Jacob George

Classifications

• B60N2/2222 Primary

  the back-rest having two or more parts · CPC title

• B60N2/686

  Panel like structures · CPC title

• B60N2/20 Primary

  the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access (B60N2/04, B60N2/22 {, B60N2/3002} take precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/028

  Elastically mounted back-rests · CPC title