Seat assembly having compression limiter with wave portion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11420546-B2
Application number	US-201916965145-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2019
Priority date	Feb 22, 2018
Publication date	Aug 23, 2022
Grant date	Aug 23, 2022

Abstract

A seat assembly includes a frame, a seating base layer arranged on the frame and a compression limiter layer arranged on the seating base layer. The compression limiter layer includes a coil portion and a wave portion having a curved profile. The wave portion includes a plurality of wave elements and one or more ribs connected between the wave elements. The seat assembly further includes a load distribution layer connected to the compression limiter layer and an adjustment module movable between a rear position and a forward position. The adjustment module is configured to move the wave portion between a retracted position and an extended position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A seat assembly comprising:
a frame;
a seating base layer arranged on the frame;
a compression limiter layer arranged adjacent to the seating base layer, the compression limiter layer comprising a wave portion forming a knee support and having a curved profile;
a load distribution layer connected to the compression limiter layer; and
an adjustment module movable between a rear position and a forward position and configured to move the wave portion between a retracted position and an extended position,
wherein the wave portion comprises a first plurality of wave elements connected to each other by a first plurality of ribs, a second plurality of wave elements connected to each other by a second plurality of ribs, and a first set of trunnions connecting the wave portion to the load distribution layer.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of wave elements are alternately positioned with each of the second plurality of wave elements.

3. The seat assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first plurality of wave elements and the second plurality of wave elements are movable relative to one another.

4. The seat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a retainer layer, wherein the compression limiter layer is disposed between the retainer layer and the load distribution layer.

5. The seat assembly of claim 4 , wherein a second set of trunnions connect the wave portion to the retainer layer.

6. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment module comprises an actuator and a body and the actuator is configured to move the body to move the adjustment module between the rear position and the forward position.

7. The seat assembly of claim 6 , wherein the wave portion is configured to slide relative to the body to move between the retracted position and the extended position.

8. The seat assembly of claim 7 , wherein the retainer layer slides relative to the body to move between the retracted position and the extended position.

9. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of wave elements are formed as linear wave springs.

10. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of wave elements comprise undulations along their respective lengths.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Oomen Craig M

Classifications

• B60N2/5685

  Resistance · CPC title

• B60N2/0284 Primary

  Adjustable seat-cushion length (B60N2/0224 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47C1/023

  the parts being horizontally-adjustable seats · CPC title

• B60N2/7094 Primary

  Upholstery springs · CPC title

• A47C7/34

  with springs in compression, e.g. coiled · CPC title