U.S. patent application number 11/743187 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-16 for vehicle seat assembly having a modular accessory system and method of making the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to LEAR CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Thomas S. Hicks, Jaron Rothkop, Yu-Jin J. Song.
Application Number | 20080252111 11/743187 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39744383 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080252111 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rothkop; Jaron ; et
al. |
October 16, 2008 |
VEHICLE SEAT ASSEMBLY HAVING A MODULAR ACCESSORY SYSTEM AND METHOD
OF MAKING THE SAME
Abstract
The present invention relates to a vehicle seat assembly having
an accessory system and method of making the same. In at least one
embodiment, the vehicle seat assembly comprises a seat cushion and
a seat back connected to the seat cushion such that the seat back
is extendable in a generally upright position relative to the seat
cushion. In this embodiment, the seat back comprises a seat frame,
a foam pad supported by the seat frame, and a trim cover extending
about the pad and the seat frame. In this embodiment, an accessory
support structure is secured to the seat frame between the seat
frame and the trim cover and has spaced apart support members
extending over at least 60 percent of the length or width of the
seat back configured to selectively receive at least one vehicle
occupant accessory assembly.
Inventors: |
Rothkop; Jaron; (Royal Oak,
MI) ; Song; Yu-Jin J.; (Sterling Heights, MI)
; Hicks; Thomas S.; (Livonia, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C. / LEAR CORPORATION
1000 TOWN CENTER, TWENTY-SECOND FLOOR
SOUTHFIELD
MI
48075-1238
US
|
Assignee: |
LEAR CORPORATION
Southfield
MI
|
Family ID: |
39744383 |
Appl. No.: |
11/743187 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60911642 |
Apr 13, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/188.04 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 7/005 20130101;
B60R 7/043 20130101; B60R 2011/0015 20130101; B60R 11/0211
20130101; B60N 3/004 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/188.04 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/02 20060101
A47C007/02 |
Claims
1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising: a seat cushion; a seat back
having a top and a bottom, the seat back bottom being connected to
the seat cushion such that the seat back is extendable in a
generally upright position relative to the seat cushion, the seat
back comprising a seat frame, a foam pad supported by the seat
frame, and a trim cover extending about the pad and the seat frame,
the seat back having a front surface and an opposed rear surface;
and an accessory support structure secured to the seat frame
between the seat frame and the trim cover, the support structure
having spaced apart support members extending over at least 60
percent of the length or width of the seat back, the support
members being configured to selectively receive at least one
vehicle occupant accessory assembly.
2. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the vehicle
occupant accessory assembly comprises a carrier having attachment
members that cooperate with receiving members on the support
members to selectively support the vehicle occupant accessory
assembly on the support members.
3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the vehicle
occupant accessory assembly comprises a carrier having a structure
cooperable with opposing structure on the accessory support
structure to selectively support the carrier on the support
structure, the accessory assembly further comprising a vehicle
occupant accessory supportable on the carrier.
4. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the accessory
support structure is capable of receiving a plurality of vehicle
occupant accessories.
5. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 4 wherein the accessory
support structure is capable of receiving a plurality of carriers,
each carrier capable of supporting a different type of vehicle
occupant accessory.
6. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the accessory
support structure comprises a ring structure comprising the spaced
apart support members and at least one transverse member extending
between and connecting the support members.
7. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 3 wherein the support members
have a first pair of spaced apart openings which the carrier is
snap-fittable into and the carrier has a second pair of openings
which the accessory is snap-fittable into.
8. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the ring structure
supports at least three carriers.
9. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 further comprising a
mounting bracket secured to the frame, the accessory support
structure being secured to the mounting bracket.
10. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the accessory
support structure extends between 60 and 90 percent of the length
of the seat back.
11. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 5 wherein at least one of
the vehicle accessories comprises an entertainment system
holder.
12. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 5 wherein at least one of
the vehicle accessories comprises a stowable tray or active
platform.
13. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 5 wherein at least one of
the vehicle accessories comprises a bag holder.
14. A vehicle seat assembly comprising: a seat cushion; a seat back
having a top and a bottom, the seat back bottom being connected to
the seat cushion such that the seat back is extendable in a
generally upright position relative to the seat cushion, the seat
back comprising a seat frame, a foam pad supported by the seat
frame, and a trim cover extending about the pad and the seat frame;
an accessory support structure secured to the seat frame between
the seat frame and the trim cover, the accessory support structure
having spaced apart support members extending over at least 60
percent of the length or width of the seat back; and at least one
vehicle occupant accessory assembly supported on the accessory
support structure, the accessory assembly comprising a carrier
selectively supportable on the support members and at least one
vehicle occupant accessory supportable on the carrier.
15. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 14 wherein the accessory
support structure is capable of receiving a plurality of vehicle
occupant accessories.
16. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 15 wherein the accessory
support structure is capable of receiving a plurality of carriers,
each carrier capable of receiving a different type of vehicle
occupant accessory.
17. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 16 wherein the carriers
comprises three separate carriers.
18. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 14 wherein the trim cover
comprises at least in part a hard plastic structure extending along
a rear of the seat assembly.
19. A method of making a vehicle seat assembly, the method
comprising: providing a seat cushion; providing a seat back having
a top and a bottom; connecting the seat back bottom to the seat
cushion such that the seat back is extendable in a generally
upright position relative to the seat cushion, the seat back
comprising a seat frame, a foam pad supported by the seat frame,
and a trim cover extending about the pad and the seat frame, the
seat back having a front surface and an opposed rear surface; and
supporting an accessory support structure on the frame between the
cover and the frame such that the accessory support structure
extends over at least 60 percent of the length or width of the seat
back, with the support members being configured to selectively
receive at least one vehicle occupant accessory.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the accessory comprises a
carrier having attachment members that cooperates with receiving
members on the support members to selectively support the vehicle
occupant accessory on the support members.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
application Ser. No. 60/911,642 filed Apr. 13, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat assembly
having a modular accessory system and method of making the
same.
[0004] 2. Background Art
[0005] Vehicle seat assemblies are known. Generally speaking, most
vehicle seat assemblies include three fundamental components: (a) a
frame to support the seat assembly and mount it to a vehicle body
within an occupant compartment; (b) a foam cushion to cover the
frame; and (c) trim material to cover the foam cushion and provide
a durable surface for contact with a seat assembly occupant.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to at least one aspect of the present invention, a
vehicle seat assembly is provided. In at least one embodiment, the
vehicle seat assembly comprises a seat cushion and a seat back
having a top and a bottom and being connected to the seat cushion
such that the seat back is extendable in a generally upright
position relative to the seat cushion. The seat back comprises a
seat frame, a foam pad supported by the seat frame, and a trim
cover extending about the pad and the seat frame. The seat back has
a front surface and an opposed rear surface. The vehicle seat
assembly further comprises an accessory support structure disposed
between the trim cover and the frame. The accessory support
structure is secured to the seat frame and has spaced apart support
members extending over at least 60 percent of the length or width
of the seat back. The support members are configured to selectively
receive at least one vehicle occupant accessory assembly.
[0007] In at least another embodiment, the vehicle seat assembly
comprises a seat cushion and a seat back having a top and a bottom
which is connected to the seat cushion such that the seat back is
extendable in a generally upright position relative to the seat
cushion. The seat back comprises a seat frame, a foam pad supported
by the seat frame, and a trim cover extending about the pad and the
seat frame. The vehicle seat assembly further comprises an
accessory support structure secured to the seat frame between the
seat frame and the trim cover. The accessory support structure has
spaced apart support members that extend over at least 60 percent
of the length or width of the seat back. The vehicle seat assembly
further comprises at least one vehicle occupant accessory supported
on the accessory support structure with the accessory assembly
comprising a carrier selectively supportable on the support members
and at least one vehicle occupant accessory supportable on the
carrier.
[0008] According to at least another aspect of the present
invention, a method of making a vehicle seat assembly is provided.
In at least one embodiment, the method comprises providing a seat
cushion, providing a seat back having a top and a bottom, and
connecting the seat back bottom to the seat cushion such that the
seat back is extendable in a generally upright position relative to
the seat cushion. The seat back comprises a seat frame, a foam pad
supported by the seat frame, and a trim cover extending about the
pad and the seat frame. The seat back has a front surface and an
opposed rear surface. The method further comprises supporting an
accessory support structure on the frame such that the accessory
support structure extends over at least 60 percent of the length or
width of the seat back and is disposed between the trim cover and
the frame. The support members is configured to selectively receive
at least one vehicle occupant accessory.
[0009] In at least one embodiment, the vehicle occupant accessory
is an assembly comprising a carrier having attachment members that
cooperate with receiving members on the support members. In at
least a further embodiment, the assembly further comprises a
vehicle occupant accessory supportable on the carrier.
[0010] In yet at least a further embodiment, the support structure
is capable of supporting a plurality of carriers. The carriers can
be the same size and populated with a variety of differing
accessories, generally of the same or similar size, but with
different functionality to fit various user's needs or lifestyle
activities.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a vehicle seat assembly
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
illustrating certain exemplary vehicle occupant accessories;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating components
in a different position;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating another
embodiment of the present invention, and certain other exemplary
vehicle occupant accessories;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating certain
exemplary vehicle occupant accessories detached from the vehicle
seat assembly;
[0015] FIG. 5 is an exploded sectional view of portions of the seat
assembly illustrated in FIG. 1, illustrating certain other
exemplary vehicle occupant accessories; and
[0016] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the seat
assembly of FIG. 1 taken along line 6-6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that
may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are
not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated or
minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore,
specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not
to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis
for the claims and/or as a representative basis for teaching one
skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
[0018] Moreover, except where otherwise expressly indicated, all
numeral quantities in this description and in the claims are to be
understood as modified by the word "about" in describing the
broader scope of this invention. Practice within the numerical
limits stated is generally preferred. Also, unless expressly stated
to the contrary, the description of a group or class of materials
may be suitable or preferred for a given purpose in connection with
the invention implies that mixtures of any two or more members of
that group or class may be equally suitable or preferred.
[0019] Referring now to the Figures, where like numerals are used
to designate like structure throughout the drawings, a schematic
vehicle seat assembly in accordance with at least one embodiment of
the present invention is generally shown at 10 in FIG. 1. While the
vehicle seat assembly 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 to be a bucket
seat assembly, it should be understood that the principles of the
invention are applicable to other types of seat assemblies, such as
bench, captain as well as other types of seat assemblies.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat assembly 10 includes a
seat cushion 12 and a seat back 14. The seat back 14 has a top
portion 18, a bottom portion 20, and an intermediate portion 22
extending between the top and bottom portions of the seat back. The
seat back 14 has a rear surface 26 facing the back of the vehicle
and an opposed front surface 28 facing the front of the vehicle.
The bottom portion 20 of the seat back 14 is connected to the seat
cushion 12 in any suitable manner, but is generally pivotally
connected to enable the seat back to extend in a generally upright
position relative to the seat cushion 12.
[0021] As schematically shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in at least one
embodiment, the seat back 14 comprises a seat back frame 32, a foam
pad 34 supported by the seat back frame 32, and a trim cover 36
that extends about and covers the frame 32 and the foam pad 34.
While not specifically illustrated, it should be understood that
the seat cushion 12 can have a similar construction including a
seat cushion frame, a foam pad and trim cover similar to that
illustrated and described with respect to the seat back 14
herein.
[0022] The seat frame 32 may be constructed from any material
suitable for application within a vehicle seat assembly, such as
aluminum, steel, another metal alloy, or a suitable polymer.
Further, the seat frame 32 may be manufactured using a technique
commonly known in the art, relative to the type of material
employed. By way of example, manufacturing techniques may include
stamping, welding, fastening or molding a suitable material to form
a seat frame 32.
[0023] The foam pad 34 can be made of any suitable type of foam,
such as polyurethane foam, for instance. It should also be
understood that the pad 34 could also be made of some, or even all,
non-foam material. The seat foam pad 34 may be conventionally
secured to the seat frame 32 in any suitable manner, such as by an
adhesive.
[0024] In at least the illustrated embodiment, the trim cover 36,
as set forth above, is adapted to engage the foam pad 34 and the
frame 32 in a covering relationship. The trim cover 36 may include
any suitable construction and material commonly known in the art.
For instance, in at least one embodiment, trim cover 36 could
comprise a relatively hard backing 37 and a relatively soft trim
material, such as fabric 39, as shown in FIG. 1. In embodiments
where a relatively hard backing 37 is employed, the backing could
be made of a relatively hard plastic, such as PVC and ABS.
[0025] Another example of a suitable construction of the trim cover
36 is illustrated in FIG. 3 where the front, back and sides of the
trim cover are made of fabric, such as cloth, leather or a polymer
trim material. By way of example, some of the known trim materials
includes cloth, leather or polymers of sufficient quality and
thickness for use in seat trim applications. Polymer trim materials
may include a flexible closed cell polymer skin material such as
polyvinyl chloride (PVC), thermoplastic olefin (TPO) or
thermoplastic urethane (TPU). Additionally, materials for use as
the trim cover 36 may include a foam backing (not shown, but
generally known in the art), which may be manufactured by a variety
of polymeric foam materials.
[0026] Referring back to FIG. 1, a plurality of vehicle accessory
assemblies 40, 42 and 44 are shown to be supported on the back
surface 26 of the seat back 14. As will be discussed further below,
at least one aspect of the present invention allows for the vehicle
accessory assemblies 40-44 to be selectively securable to the seat
back 14, and more specifically, to an accessory ring 50 secured to
the seat frame 32. While three vehicle accessory assemblies 40-44
are shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, it should be
understood that fewer, i.e., one or two, or more than three
accessory assemblies could be supported on the seat back 14.
[0027] The vehicle occupant accessories supportable by the
accessory ring 50 can be any accessories that the vehicle occupant
would find useful to have while being a passenger in the vehicle,
particularly a passenger in the back seat of the vehicle. For
instance, the exemplary vehicle occupant accessories illustrated in
FIG. 1 include a stowable, fold-down tray 40 or active platform, a
storage accessory, such as a map pocket 42, having an openable
biased flap, and another storage compartment, such as for storing
sunglasses, pens, game cartridges, CD's and the like, having an
openable door, such as with a glove compartment. Other exemplary
accessories include, but are not necessarily limited to, a series
of trash bag holders 80 (FIG. 3) including a series of bag hooks
81, a bag or backpack 82 supportable by clips 77 on a carrier, a
net 79 (FIG. 4), a media holder 86 (FIG. 5) having an adjustable
holder 73, which can hold a portable DVD player, CD player, video
game console, rear seat entertainment/infotainment or the like,
schematically illustrated at 88, or a series of individual hooks,
shown schematically at 90. It should be understood that the vehicle
occupant accessories and other assemblies illustrated and described
herein are only exemplary and in no way to be understood to limit
the present invention.
[0028] In the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 1, each of the vehicle
accessory assemblies 40-44 are different from each other. While the
exemplary assemblies 40-44 illustrated in FIG. 1 are all different
from each other, it should be understood that two or more of the
accessory assemblies could be the same.
[0029] As will be discussed further below, as the vehicle accessory
assemblies 40-44 are selectively securable to the seat back 14, in
at least one aspect of the present invention, seat assemblies may
be readily varied which can enable the seat to be designed and/or
modified by the user, i.e., the vehicle owner, after being
delivered from the vehicle assembly plant, for instance at the
point of sale, i.e., the dealership. Moreover, varying seat
assemblies can be easily made at the vehicle assembly plant.
[0030] To help enable the variability of seat assembly designs, the
accessory ring 50 is disposed on the rear of the seat back 14. In
the illustrated embodiments, the accessory ring 50 is secured to
the frame 32 and is covered by the trim cover 36. In at least the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the accessory ring 50 includes
spaced apart rails 52 having a plurality of holes 54 for receipt of
the accessory assemblies. It is should be understood that the holes
54 can have any suitable size and shape. In at least one
embodiment, at least one, and in the specific embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 5, three transverse members 56, 58 and 62
extend between and connect rails 52. It should be understood that
the accessory ring 50 can have any suitable shape, and embodiments
are readily envisioned without any transverse member(s) 56, 58
and/or 42.
[0031] One or more of the transverse members 56, 58 and 62 and/or
rails 52 can have holes 64 or other openings for securing the ring
50 to the frame 32. As can be readily understood, fasteners such as
screws or rivets (not shown) can extend through holes 64 for
securing the ring 50 to the frame 32. Further, as shown in the
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, a mounting bracket 68
having holes 35, secured to the frame 32, could be employed to help
attach ring 50 to the frame 32. It should also be readily
understood that other fastening mechanisms could be employed to
secure the accessory ring 50 to the frame 32. For instance,
accessory ring 50 could be welded to the frame 32.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 5, the accessory ring rails 52 are spaced
apart from each other. In at least one embodiment, the accessory
ring rails 52 are spaced apart 20 to 50 centimeters, and in at
least another embodiment 25 to 40 cm.
[0033] As shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the
accessory rails 52 extend generally the length of the intermediate
portion 22 of the seat back 14. The length of the seat back 14 is
generally between 65 to 115 cm, with the intermediate portion 22 of
the seat back being about 40 to 80 cm. In at least one embodiment,
the accessory rails 52 extend over at least 60 percent of the
length L of the seat back 14, and in at least another embodiment
between 65 and 90 percent of the length L of the seat back, while
in yet another embodiment between 70 and 80 percent of the length L
of the seat back. This length of the rails 52 provides a sufficient
amount of space on the seat back 14 to provide a variety of vehicle
occupant accessories. This provides the seat back with the
ability/flexibility to be selectively configured to have a desired
amount of, and variety of, vehicle occupant accessories. While the
rails 52 are shown to extend over a substantial, at least 60%, of
the length L of the seat back 14, it should be understood that the
rails could extend similarly in the transverse direction, i.e.,
over at least 60% of the width W of the seat back.
[0034] The back surface 26 of the seat back 14 can be provided with
openings 70 that generally align with the holes 54 on the accessory
ring 50. The openings 70, as can be seen in FIG. 4, can be provided
in the back surface 26 of the trim cover 36.
[0035] Each of the vehicle occupant accessories will include at
least one attachment member, which is schematically illustrated in
FIG. 4 to be one or more clips 74, which can be selectively
insertable through opening 70 of the trim cover 36 and selectively
engageable within one or more of the holes 54 of the accessory
rails 52. While the attachment member(s)/clip(s) 74 can comprise
any suitable clip, the clip should be able to be selectively
securable within, and removable from, the accessory rails 52. The
attachment members or clips 40 could be made of any suitable
material such as plastic or metal. Moreover, as will be explained
further below, the clips 74 can be integrally formed on the vehicle
accessory or, as will become evident below, on a carrier on which
the accessory is secured. Furthermore, while the vehicle occupant
accessory assemblies are described and illustrated as having
attachment members such as clips 74 with the ring 50 having
receiving members such as holes 54, it should be understood that
the accessory assemblies could have the receiving members with the
ring having the attaching members. Moreover, while clips 74 and
holes 54 have been described as the attachment members and the
receiving members, respectively, it should be understood that other
attachment members such as tabs, hooks and other male-type
attachment members, and other receiving members such as sockets,
retaining arms and other female-type receiving members, could be
used.
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each accessory assembly can be
provided with a carrier 92 which can include attachment members 74
for selectively securing the carrier, and thus the accessory, to
the rails 52. The carriers 92 could have the accessories secured to
them by any suitable means. The carriers 92 could be a permanent
part of a specific/dedicated vehicle accessory assembly or could be
able to be selectively fitted with various vehicle accessories.
Towards this end, the carriers 92 could include various holes 96,
or other receiving members, to receive attachment members 98, such
as clips, shown schematically on exemplary accessory hooks 90 and
media holder 88, in FIG. 5. The carriers can be the same or
different sizes.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 3, another embodiment of the vehicle seat
assembly of the present invention is illustrated. In this
embodiment, the seat back 14 is provided with or supports a bag or
backpack 82 and a shopping bag holder 80, having a plurality of
hooks 81 and a netted compartment 79. The bag 82 can be provided
with hooks 71 that can be supported on clips 77 on carrier. It
should be readily understood that various other vehicle accessories
can be used beside the illustrated assemblies.
[0038] As discussed above, it is envisioned that a variety of
various vehicle occupant accessories could be employed and the
types of accessories are not to be limited by the disclosure
herein, which should be considered exemplary.
[0039] Moreover, it should be understood that the accessory ring 50
can be made out of any suitable material and by any suitable
process. For instance, the accessory ring 50 can be made of any
suitable plastic or metallic material and could be made by any
suitable molding process or stamping. Furthermore, the accessory
ring 50 could have any suitable shape, including those not limited
to a ring-shape.
[0040] While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and
described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and
describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words
used in the specification are words of description rather than
limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *