Side shield trench on seat cushion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9580001-B2
Application number	US-201414518508-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2014
Priority date	Oct 20, 2014
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A seat assembly is provided having a side shield having a leading edge. The side shield adapted to cover at least a portion of the seat cushion of the seat assembly. The assembly further includes a seat cushion, the side shield positioned adjacent to the seat cushion, the seat cushion having an elongated trench adapted to receive the leading edge of the side shield so as to prevent the formation of a gap between the shield and the cushion portion thereby providing an aesthetically appealing appearance to the user. The seat cushion includes a side surface positioned adjacent to the side shield. The trench is further defined as a generally horizontal momentary discontinuous surface extending into the side surface of the seat cushion, the leading edge of the side shield resting within the trench. The side shield extends around the seat cushion to a front portion of the seat cushion and the trench adapted to accept the leading edge of the side shield at the front portion of the seat cushion. The trench further extends horizontally from the rear to the front of the seat cushion to accommodate the leading edge of the side shield.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A seat assembly having a seat frame, the seat assembly comprising:
a side shield, the side shield having an upper portion and an opposite bottom portion, the upper portion having a leading edge, the bottom portion attached to the seat frame, the side shield adapted to cover at least a portion of the seat cushion; and
a seat cushion having an elongated trench extending along a side edge thereof and which is adapted to receive the leading edge of the side shield, the trench permanently formed into the seat cushion, the trench curving to extend at least partially around to a front edge of the seat cushion, the front edge of the seat cushion being generally orthogonal from the side edge, the trench preventing the formation of a gap between the side shield and the seat cushion thus providing an aesthetically appealing appearance to the user.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the seat cushion includes a side surface positioned adjacent to the side shield.

3. The seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the trench is further defined as a generally horizontal momentary discontinuous surface extending into the side surface of the seat cushion, the leading edge of the side shield resting within the trench.

4. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the side shield extend around the seat cushion to a front portion of the seat cushion.

5. The seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the trench extends around the seat cushion to the front portion of the seat cushion, the trench adapted to accept the leading edge of the side shield at the front portion of the seat cushion.

6. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the trench extends horizontally from the rear to the front of the seat cushion.

7. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper portion extends away from a base portion, the leading edge of the side shield is positioned on the upper portion of the side shield.

8. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein a trim cover is provided extending over and around the seat cushion, the trim cover molded into the trench.

9. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the frame is connected to a floor of a vehicle.

10. A seat assembly for use in an automotive vehicle, the seat assembly including a frame, the seat assembly comprising:
a side shield, the side shield having thin walled body including an uppermost and inwardly directed leading edge, the side shield having a lower edge connected to the frame; and
a seat cushion, the seat cushion having a horizontally extending trench positioned on the side of the seat cushion, the trench permanently molded or cut into the seat cushion, the trench extending from the rear around to the front of the seat cushion wherein an aesthetically appealing transition from the seat cushion to the side shield with no gap is formed when the trench and the leading edge of the side shield align.

11. The seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the side shield extend around the seat cushion to a front portion of the seat cushion.

12. The seat assembly of claim 11 wherein the trench extends around the seat cushion to the front portion of the seat cushion, the trench adapted to accept the leading edge of the side shield at the front portion of the seat cushion.

13. The seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the trench extends horizontally from the rear to the front of the seat cushion.

14. The seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the side shield includes an upper portion extending away from a base portion.

15. The seat assembly of claim 14 wherein the leading edge of the side shield is positioned on the upper portion of the side shield.

16. The seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the side shield is connected to a frame, the frame is connected to a floor of a vehicle.

17. The seat assembly of claim 10 wherein the seat cushion includes a side surface positioned adjacent to the side shield.

18. The seat assembly of claim 17 wherein the trench is further defined as a generally horizontal momentary discontinuous surface extending into the side surface of the seat cushion, the leading edge of the side shield resting within the trench.

19. A seat assembly comprising:
a seat frame;
a side shield having an upper portion and an opposite bottom portion, the upper portion having a leading edge, the bottom portion attached to the seat frame; and
a cushion portion, the cushion portion having a trench formed into the cushion portion, the trench permanently molded or cut into the seat cushion, the trench configured to connect to the side shield, the leading edge of the shield engaging the trench of the cushion portion thereby eliminating the gap between the shield portion and the cushion portion to provide an aesthetically appealing appearance to the user and to aid in installation of the shield during manufacturing.

20. The seat assembly of claim 19 wherein the trench is generally horizontally extending.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Eng & Mfg North America Inc
• Toyota Motor Eng & Manuufacturing North America Inc

Inventors

• Sosnowski Yi-Ru Chen
• Hazlewood Robert Joseph
• Edgar Patrick J
• Rosander Kyle E
• Toma Leon

Classifications

• B60N2/646

  shape of the cushion · CPC title

• B60N2/6009

  covering more than only the seat · CPC title

• B60N2/5816

  attachments thereof · CPC title

• B60N2/682

  Joining means · CPC title

• B60N2/70 Primary

  Upholstery springs {; Upholstery} · CPC title