Additive manufactured cushioned component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11932142-B2
Application number	US-202217890519-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2022
Priority date	Aug 18, 2022
Publication date	Mar 19, 2024
Grant date	Mar 19, 2024

Abstract

A seat assembly includes a cushioned component having a lattice matrix. An air bladder assembly is covered by the lattice matrix. The air bladder assembly includes a plurality of air bladders supported on a platform assembly. Each air bladder includes a body portion operable between deflated and inflated conditions. Each air bladder includes a connection stem. A support plate includes a plurality of access apertures disposed therethrough. The air bladder assembly is operably coupled to the support plate. Each air bladder is aligned with at least one access aperture of the plurality of access apertures. A carrier assembly includes a plurality of mounting apertures disposed through an outer surface thereof. The carrier assembly receives the connection stem of each air bladder through at least one mounting aperture of the plurality of mounting apertures of the carrier assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seat assembly, comprising:
a cushioned component having a lattice matrix;
an air bladder assembly covered by the lattice matrix, wherein the air bladder assembly includes a plurality of air bladders supported on a platform assembly, wherein each air bladder of the plurality of air bladders includes a body portion positioned on an outer surface of the platform assembly and operable between deflated and inflated conditions, and further wherein each air bladder of the plurality of air bladders includes a connection stem outwardly extending from an inner surface of the platform assembly;
a support plate having a plurality of access apertures disposed therethrough, wherein the air bladder assembly is operably coupled to the support plate, such that each air bladder of the plurality of air bladders is aligned with at least one access aperture of the plurality of access apertures; and
a carrier assembly having a plurality of mounting apertures disposed through an outer surface thereof, wherein the connection stem of each air bladder is received through at least one mounting aperture of the plurality of mounting apertures of the carrier assembly.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the carrier assembly is a contoured surface.

3. The seat assembly of claim 2 , wherein the support plate is a flexibly resilient plate that includes a complementary configuration relative to the contoured surface of the carrier assembly.

4. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connection stem of each air bladder is received through at least one access aperture of the plurality of access apertures of the support plate.

5. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein each air bladder of the plurality of air bladders includes a non-porous outer casing surrounding an interior cavity, further wherein the outer casing and the lattice matrix are integrated components comprised of a common material to define a monolithic structure.

6. A seat assembly, comprising:
a cushioned component having a lattice matrix;
an air bladder assembly integrated into the lattice matrix, wherein the air bladder assembly includes first and second air bladders that are spaced-apart from one another and operable between at-rest and pressurized conditions, and further wherein the first and second air bladders each include a non-porous outer casing surrounding an interior cavity, wherein the outer casing and the lattice matrix are integrated components comprised of a common material to define a monolithic structure; and
a support plate having first and second access apertures disposed therethrough, wherein the support plate is flexibly resilient, and further wherein the first and second air bladders are operably coupled to the support plate.

7. The seat assembly of claim 6 , including:
a carrier assembly having first and second mounting apertures disposed through an outer surface thereof, wherein the outer surface of the carrier assembly is a contoured surface, and further wherein the support plate includes a complementary configuration relative to the contoured surface of the outer surface of the carrier assembly.

8. The seat assembly of claim 7 , wherein the air bladder assembly includes a platform assembly having an outer surface, wherein the first and second air bladders each include a body portion positioned on the outer surface of the platform assembly.

9. The seat assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first and second air bladders include first and second connection stems, respectively, outwardly extending from an inner surface of the platform assembly.

10. The seat assembly of claim 9 , including:
an inflation module operably coupled to the first and second connection stems of the first and second air bladders, such that the air bladder assembly is fluidically coupled to the inflation module by one or more supply lines.

11. The seat assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first and second connection stems are received through the first and second access apertures of the support plate.

12. The seat assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first and second connection stems are received through the first and second mounting apertures of the carrier assembly.

13. A seat assembly, comprising:
a cushioned component having a lattice matrix;
an air bladder having a distal portion and a proximal portion in fluid communication with the distal portion, wherein the proximal portion includes a connection stem outwardly extending therefrom, and further wherein an outermost surface of the distal portion is covered by the lattice matrix, and further wherein the air bladder is operable between at-rest and pressurized conditions;
a support plate having an access aperture disposed therethrough, wherein the support plate is flexibly resilient, and further wherein the air bladder is operably coupled to the support plate, such that the connection stem thereof is received through the access aperture; and
a carrier assembly having a mounting aperture disposed through an outer surface thereof, wherein the connection stem is received through the mounting aperture, and further wherein the outer surface of the carrier assembly is a contoured surface, and further wherein the support plate includes a complementary configuration relative to the contoured surface.

14. The seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein the air bladder includes a platform assembly having inner and outer surfaces, and further wherein the distal portion of the air bladder is positioned on the outer surface of the platform assembly, and further wherein the proximal portion of the air bladder is positioned on the inner surface of the platform assembly.

15. The seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein the air bladder includes a non-porous outer casing surrounding an interior cavity.

16. The seat assembly of claim 15 , wherein the outer casing and the lattice matrix are integrated components comprised of a common material to define a monolithic structure.

17. The seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein the connection stem includes a snap linkage, and further wherein the snap linkage retains the air bladder, the support plate, and the carrier assembly in a position along an axial direction of the connection stem.

18. The seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein the support plate is disposed between the air bladder and the carrier assembly.

19. The seat assembly of claim 13 , including:
an inflation module operably coupled to the connection stem of the air bladder by at least one supply line.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Romelfanger Megan
• Schein Victoria Leigh
• Boland Brian
• Maloney Patrick
• Perkins Alex
• Kondrad Marcos Silva

Classifications

• B60N2/665 Primary

  using inflatable bladders · CPC title

• B60N2/914 Primary

  Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape · CPC title

• A47C4/54

  Inflatable chairs · CPC title

• A47C7/142

  by fluid means · CPC title

• A47C7/467

  adjustable by fluid means · CPC title