Modular seat with cable tensioning system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11718214-B2
Application number	US-202117562186-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2021
Priority date	Dec 27, 2021
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

Abstract

A modular seat assembly includes a seat frame, a modular seat component for engaging the seat frame including a mounting bracket, a cable routed towards the frame and engaged with the mounting bracket, and a cable tensioning system. The cable tensioning system is configured to tighten the cable into a tensioned state and release the cable into a slacked state. In the tensioned state, the modular seat component is secured to the seat frame via engagement of the cable with the mounting bracket, and in the slacked state, the modular seat component is releasable from the cable via disengagement of the cable from the respective mounting bracket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular seat assembly comprising:
a seat frame;
a modular seat component for engaging the seat frame, the modular seat component including a mounting bracket;
a cable routed towards the frame and engaged with the mounting bracket; and
a cable tensioning system configured to tighten the cable into a tensioned state and release the cable into a slacked state,
wherein in the tensioned state, the modular seat component is secured to the seat frame via engagement of the cable with the mounting bracket, and in the slacked state, the modular seat component is releasable from the cable via disengagement of the cable from the respective mounting bracket.

2. The modular seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket includes an end portion with a curved hook defining a routing channel for the cable therein.

3. The modular seat assembly of claim 2 , wherein the seat frame defines an aperture sized to receive the end portion therethrough when the cable is in the tensioned state.

4. The modular seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cable tensioning system includes a tensioning bracket that engages the cable, the tensioning bracket being movable between a first position associated with the tensioned state and a second position associated with the slacked state to tension and slack the cable, respectively.

5. The modular seat assembly of claim 4 , wherein the tensioning bracket is movable upward with respect to a height of the seat frame from the first position to the second position to release the cable to the slacked state, and downward from the second position to the first position to tension the cable to the tensioned state.

6. The modular seat assembly of claim 4 , wherein the tensioning bracket is movable via a tensioning mechanism.

7. The modular seat assembly of claim 6 , wherein the tensioning mechanism is a screw, a solenoid, or a gear.

8. The modular seat assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a retention spring configured to bias the tensioning bracket toward the first position upon loading of the seat frame.

9. A modular seat assembly comprising:
a seat frame defining a plurality of apertures therethrough;
a plurality of modular seat components for engaging the seat frame, each modular seat component including a corresponding mounting bracket, with each mounting bracket having an end portion corresponding to a corresponding aperture of the plurality of apertures, each end portion forming a routing channel;
a cable forming a continuous loop, with the continuous loop being releasably engaged with each mounting bracket via the routing channel; and
a cable tensioning system configured to tighten the cable into a tensioned state and release the cable into a slacked state,
wherein in the tensioned state, each end portion is passed through the corresponding aperture such that the modular seat components are mounted on the seat frame via force from the cable on the mounting bracket, and in the slacked state, the modular seat components are individually releasable via disengagement of the cable from the corresponding mounting bracket.

10. The modular seat assembly of claim 9 , wherein the cable tensioning system includes a cable tensioning bracket engaged with the cable and movable relative to the seat frame such that the cable is tightened to the tensioned state and released to the slacked state upon movement of the cable tensioning bracket.

11. The modular seat assembly of claim 10 , wherein the cable tensioning bracket is movable via activation of a tensioning mechanism.

12. The modular seat assembly of claim 9 , wherein each end portion of each mounting bracket defines an opening adjacent to a curved hook forming the routing channel, and includes a tab protruding from the curved hook and extending into the opening such that the cable is looped behind the tab for insertion into the routing channel.

13. The modular seat assembly of claim 12 , wherein the curved hook and the tab cooperate to retain the cable in the routing channel when the cable is in the slacked state.

14. The modular seat assembly of claim 9 , wherein the modular seat components comprise upper side bolsters, lower side bolsters, center regions, or combinations thereof.

15. The modular seat assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a first electrical connection on the seat frame and a second corresponding electrical connection on the modular seat component, wherein the first and second electrical connections are configured to electrically connect to one another when the cable is in the tensioned state and the modular seat component is mounted on the seat frame to supply power and/or transmit data to the modular seat component.

16. The modular seat assembly of claim 9 , wherein the seat frame defines a periphery with the modular seat components on an outer side of the periphery and the cable on an inner side of the periphery.

17. The modular seat assembly of claim 16 , wherein the cable is in a cross-lace configuration on the inner side.

18. A method of assembling a modular seat assembly comprising:
engaging a modular component with a cable;
tightening the cable via a cable tensioning system to secure the modular component on a seat frame; and
inserting a portion of a mounting bracket of the modular component in a corresponding aperture defined by the seat frame such that tightening the cable secures the modular component on the seat frame.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein engaging the modular component with the cable includes looping the cable over the mounting bracket of the modular component and seating the cable in a routing channel defined by the mounting bracket.

Assignees

• Lear Corp

Inventors

• Abdella David
• Yetukuri Arjun
• Hallock Joshua
• Landry Brandon

Classifications

• B60N2/72 Primary

  Attachment or adjustment thereof · CPC title

• A47C7/0213

  detachably secured to seats, e.g. by ties or hook and loop straps · CPC title

• A47C15/00

  Other seating furniture · CPC title

• B60N2/682

  Joining means · CPC title

• B60N2/7041

  Fixation of covers and springs · CPC title