Seat comprising suspension fabric with compression limiters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11452380-B2
Application number	US-201917284093-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2019
Priority date	Oct 25, 2018
Publication date	Sep 27, 2022
Grant date	Sep 27, 2022

Abstract

A suspended fabric seat includes a frame, a woven fabric suspended in the frame and a plurality of compression limiters attached to the woven fabric. The woven fabric is formed from monofilament fibers that are oriented in a first direction and textile fibers oriented in a second direction transverse to the first direction. The plurality of compression limiters are oriented in the first direction and are formed from a material compatible with the woven fabric. A method for making the suspended fabric seat is also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A seat, comprising:
a frame;
a woven fabric suspended in the frame, the woven fabric formed from monofilament fibers that are oriented in a first direction and textile fibers oriented in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and
a plurality of compression limiters attached to the woven fabric, wherein the plurality of compression limiters are formed from a foam material.

2. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of compression limiters are formed from a material compatible with one or both of the monofilament and textile fibers.

3. The seat of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of compression limiters are oriented in the first direction.

4. The seat of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of compression limiters are mounted on a surface of the woven fabric opposite to an occupant side of the woven fabric.

5. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of compression limiters are bonded to the woven fabric to conform with the woven fabric when the woven fabric is distorted.

6. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the woven fabric forms a seat bottom.

7. The seat of claim 1 further including a carrier positioned on a periphery of the woven fabric, and wherein the carrier is secured in the frame.

8. The seat of claim 7 , wherein the carrier is overmolded onto the woven fabric.

9. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a flexible region configured to permit the frame to flex when under load.

10. The seat of claim 9 , wherein the flexible region includes a series of slits in the frame.

11. The seat of claim 9 further including a flexible leg member extending from an edge of the frame opposite the woven fabric.

12. The seat of claim 11 further including a resilient member extending from the woven fabric along the flexible leg member.

13. The seat of claim 12 , wherein the resilient member is a foam member.

14. The seat of claim 13 , wherein the woven fabric extends over the foam member.

15. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the compression limiters, when subject to an occupant load, are in compression along a surface at which the compression limiters are mounted to the woven fabric.

16. A method of making a seat, comprising:
positioning a woven fabric in a frame, the woven fabric formed from monofilament fibers that are oriented in a first direction and textile fibers oriented in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and
securing a plurality of compression limiters to the woven fabric by melting the monofilament fibers and the plurality of compression limiters to create a bond therebetween.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of compression limiters are bonded to the woven fabric.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of compression limiters are oriented in the first direction.

19. The method of claim 16 further including overmolding a carrier onto the woven fabric and securing the carrier to the frame.

20. A seat, comprising:
a frame;
a woven fabric suspended in the frame, the woven fabric formed from monofilament fibers that are oriented in a first direction and textile fibers oriented in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and
a plurality of compression limiters attached to the woven fabric, wherein the plurality of compression limiters are mounted on a surface of the woven fabric opposite to an occupant side of the woven fabric.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Oomen Craig Martin
• Sayers Randy James
• Smith Samuel

Classifications

• A47C7/18

  having foamed material included in cushioning part · CPC title

• A47C7/282 Primary

  with mesh-like supports, e.g. elastomeric membranes · CPC title

• A47C31/023 Primary

  connecting upholstery to frames, e.g. by hooks, clips, snap fasteners, clamping means or the like · CPC title

• A47C7/14

  of adjustable shape; elastically mounted {; adaptable to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions (movably-coupled seat and backrests with elastic adjustment means A47C1/03261)} · CPC title

• A47C7/34

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