Trim and foam assembly for a vehicle seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9649963-B2
Application number	US-201414196694-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2014
Priority date	Mar 4, 2014
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat frame disposed between an integrally formed back panel and an inner close-out panel. A cushion assembly is operably coupled to the inner close-out panel. A composite support member is substantially encompassed by the cushion assembly. The composite support member includes attachment members projecting rearwardly from inside the cushion assembly that engage with the inner close-out panel. The attachment members include snap-fit features disposed at a lower portion of the composite support member. Retaining rings are disposed at an upper portion of the composite support member. An upper trim piece extends over a top portion of the seat frame, the back panel, and the inner close-out panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seat frame disposed between an integrally formed back panel and an inner close-out panel, wherein the back panel includes forward hooks configured to engage hook-receiving apertures defined in the seat frame;
a cushion assembly operably coupled to the inner close-out panel;
a composite support member substantially encompassed by the cushion assembly, the composite support member including attachment members projecting rearwardly from inside the cushion assembly and engaged with the inner close-out panel, the attachment members including:
snap-fit features disposed at a lower portion of the composite support member; and
retaining rings disposed at an upper portion of the composite support member; and
an upper trim piece extending over a top portion of the seat frame, the back panel, and the inner close-out panel.

2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner close-out panel is securely engaged directly with the seat frame via mechanical fasteners.

3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein an upper portion of the inner close-out panel includes an indented portion configured to closely receive the upper trim piece.

4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the composite support member defines a large inner opening, and wherein a plurality of loops are integrally molded into the composite support member proximate the large inner opening.

5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner close-out panel includes a plurality of hooks, and wherein each of the plurality of hooks is configured to engage one loop.

6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of hooks includes multiple ribs that extend orthogonal to a loop receiving channel.

7. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a seat frame disposed between an integrally formed back panel and an inner close-out panel, wherein the back panel includes forward hooks configured to engage hook-receiving apertures defined in the seat frame;
a cushion assembly;
a composite support member substantially encompassed by the cushion assembly, the composite support member including attachment members projecting rearwardly from inside the cushion assembly and engaged with the inner close-out panel; and
an upper trim piece extending over a top portion of the seat frame, back panel, and inner close-out panel.

8. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein the inner close-out panel is securely engaged directly with the seat frame via mechanical fasteners.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein an upper portion of the inner close-out panel includes an indented portion configured to closely receive the upper trim piece.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein the composite support member defines a large inner opening, and wherein a plurality of loops are integrally molded into the composite support member proximate the large inner opening.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 7 , wherein the inner close-out panel includes a plurality of retention hooks, and wherein each of the plurality of retention hooks is configured to engage one loop.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of retention hooks includes multiple ribs that extend orthogonal to a loop receiving channel.

13. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
a cushion assembly;
a composite support member substantially encompassed by the cushion assembly and defining a large central opening, the composite support member further including engagement loops spaced peripherally around the large central opening and snap-fit connection features exposed through the cushion assembly and engaged with snap-fit connection features on an inner close-out panel;
a hard back panel operably coupled to the cushion assembly, wherein the hard back panel includes forward hooks configured to engage hook-receiving apertures defined in a seat frame; and
an upper trim piece extending over a top portion of the inner close-out panel.

14. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13 , further comprising: an inner close-out panel including an indented portion configured to closely receive the upper trim piece.

15. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 14 , wherein the inner close-out panel includes a plurality of hooks and wherein each of the plurality of hooks is configured to engage one engagement loop.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the composite support member includes a plurality of laterally extending securing rings encompassed by the cushion assembly.

17. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 13 , wherein the composite support member includes snap-fit features disposed at a lower portion of the composite support member and retaining rings disposed at an upper portion of the composite support member.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc
• Ford Global Tech Pllc

Inventors

• Line Johnathan Andrew
• Sidhu Mandeep Singh
• Hosbach Christian J

Classifications

• B60N2/20 Primary

  the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access (B60N2/04, B60N2/22 {, B60N2/3002} take precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/7005

  detachable · CPC title

• B60N2/68

  Seat frames · CPC title

• B60N2/70

  Upholstery springs {; Upholstery} · CPC title

• B60N2/7011

  of substantially two-dimensional shape, e.g. hammock-like, plastic shells, fabrics · CPC title