Flexible upper frame adapter for traditional back frame and seat back assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12208716-B2
Application number	US-202217841798-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 16, 2022
Priority date	Jun 16, 2022
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

A motor vehicle seating assembly includes a conventional common seat back frame, a plurality of forward soft trim carrier assemblies each having a unique configuration, a plurality of corresponding seat back panel and closeout assemblies, and an adapter carrier coupled with the common seat back frame and disposed between the forward soft trim carrier assembly and the corresponding seat back panel and closeout assembly. The adapter carrier includes a composite upper portion and a pair of depending frame attachment brackets coupled with a lower inboard and outboard lateral side of the composite upper portion of the adapter carrier. The pair of depending frame attachment brackets are coupled with a pair of opposed lateral side rails of the common seat back frame. The adapter carrier has a unique configuration corresponding with one of the plurality of forward soft trim carrier assemblies and the seat back panel and closeout assemblies.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A motor vehicle seating assembly for a motor vehicle having a lower seat assembly and an upwardly extending seat back assembly, the upwardly extending seat back assembly comprising;
a seat back frame;
a one of a plurality of forward soft trim carrier assemblies adapted for attachment to a forward portion of the seat back frame, each of the plurality of forward soft trim carrier assemblies having a different configuration;
a one of a plurality of seat back panel and closeout assemblies attached to a rearward portion of the seat back frame, each of the plurality of seat back panel and closeout assemblies having a different configuration adapted to correspond with the one of the plurality of forward soft trim carriers; and
an adapter carrier operably coupled with the seat back frame and disposed between the one of the plurality of forward soft trim carrier assemblies and the corresponding one of the seat back panel and closeout assemblies, wherein the adapter carrier further comprises:
a composite upper portion; and
a pair of opposed and depending frame attachment brackets coupled with a lower inboard lateral side and a lower outboard lateral side of the composite upper portion of the adapter carrier;
wherein the pair of opposed and depending frame attachment brackets extend downwardly and are coupled with a pair of opposed lateral side rails of the seat back frame; and
wherein the adapter carrier has a different configuration adapted to correspond with the one of the plurality of forward soft trim carrier assemblies and the corresponding one of the seat back panel and closeout assemblies.

2. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the composite upper portion of the adapter carrier is coupled with an upper portion of the seat back frame;
the upper portion of the seat back frame comprises a pair of head restraint guide sleeve receivers and the composite upper portion of the adapter carrier comprises a pair of sleeve openings that align with the pair of head restraint guide sleeve receivers; and
a one of a pair of head restraint guide sleeves are received within a one of each of the pair of head restraint guide sleeve receivers and extends through a one of the pair of sleeve openings in the composite upper portion of the adapter carrier.

3. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the seat back frame further comprises an upper cross member extending between an upper portion of the pair of opposed lateral side rails of the seat back frame:
each of the pair of head restraint guide sleeve receivers comprises an opening in an upper surface of the upper cross member and a vertically aligned receptacle on a lower horizontal surface of the upper cross member that each receives one of the pair of head restraint guide sleeves; and
the composite upper portion of the adapter carrier comprises a stepped portion having a lower forward vertical surface, an upper rearward vertical surface, and an intermediate surface extending between the lower forward vertical surface and the upper rearward vertical surface upon which the pair of sleeve openings in the composite upper portion of the adapter carrier is at least partially disposed, wherein the lower forward vertical surface of the stepped portion is disposed forward of the pair of head restraint guide sleeve receivers and the intermediate surface of the stepped portion is disposed proximate the upper surface of the upper cross member.

4. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of forward soft trim carrier assemblies each comprise a decorative outer finish trim assembly that forms a forward portion of the upwardly extending seat back assembly and defines an outer perimeter of the plurality of forward soft trim carrier assemblies.

5. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of corresponding seat back panel and closeout assemblies comprises a decorative outer integral polymer shell that forms a rearward portion of the upwardly extending seat back assembly, has an outer perimeter that corresponds with the outer perimeter of the plurality of forward soft trim carrier assemblies, and cooperates with the one of the plurality of forward soft trim carrier assemblies to substantially enclose the upwardly extending seat back assembly.

6. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the plurality of forward soft trim carrier assemblies and the corresponding one of the seat back panel and closeout assemblies comprise an integrated head restraint.

7. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the plurality of forward soft trim carrier assemblies and the corresponding one of the seat back panel and closeout assemblies comprise a seat belt pass through.

8. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein an upper portion of the seat back frame comprises a pair of forwardly extending reinforcement corner brackets and the composite upper portion of the adapter carrier comprises a pair of reinforcement corner bracket openings, wherein a one of the pair of forward extending reinforcement corner brackets are received within and extend through a one of the pair of reinforcement corner bracket openings in the composite upper portion of the adapter carrier.

9. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 8 , wherein a one of the pair of forward extending reinforcement corner brackets further comprises a seat belt brace disposed proximate the seat belt pass through.

10. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the composite upper portion of the adapter carrier comprises a peripheral channel defined by an upper outer periphery of the composite upper portion of the adapter carrier and an inner flange.

11. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 10 , wherein the composite upper portion of the adapter carrier comprises a stepped portion having a lower forward vertical surface, and the peripheral channel is further defined by a lateral outer periphery of the composite upper portion of the adapter carrier and a lateral recess formed on either side of the lower forward vertical surface of the composite upper portion of the adapter carrier.

12. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 10 , wherein an airbag assembly is disposed in the peripheral channel.

13. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 12 , wherein a side airbag inflator canister is attached to a lower portion of a one of the pair of opposed and depending frame attachment brackets of the adapter carrier.

14. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 10 , wherein the peripheral channel provides a venting passage for heated or cooled air.

15. The motor vehicle seating assembly of claim 10 , wherein the peripheral channel provides an electrical conduit.

16. A motor vehicle seating assembly for a motor vehicle having a lower seat assembly and an upwardly extending seat back assembly, the upwardly extending seat back assembly comprising;
a seat back frame;
a forward soft trim carrier assembly adapted for attachment to a forward portion of the seat back frame;
a seat back panel and closeout assembly attached to a rearward portion of the seat back frame; and
an adapter carrier operably coupled with the seat back frame and disposed between the forward soft trim carrier assembly and the seat back panel and closeout assembly, wherein the adapter carrier further comprises:
a composite upper portion coupled with an upper portion of the seat back frame; and
a first depending frame attachment bracket coupled with a lower inboard lateral si

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Line Johnathan Andrew
• Yilma Benjamin
• Kondrad Marcos Silva
• Berry S M Akbar
• El-Jawahri Raed Essa
• Pline Kevin Michael
• Paddock Jeffrey Charles
• Mcbride Robyne

Classifications

• B60N2/686

  Panel like structures · CPC title

• B60N2/64

  Back-rests {or cushions (B60N2/2222 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60N2/682 Primary

  Joining means · CPC title

• B60N2/68 Primary

  Seat frames · CPC title