Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100074678 | REINFORCED THERMOPLASTIC STRUCTURAL JOINT ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE - A structural joint assembly for a vehicle is provided with a first thermoplastic composite member having a protrusion containing fibrous material. A reinforcement member is provided with a receptacle for mating engagement with the protrusion. A second thermoplastic member is mounted to the first thermoplastic member over the protrusion such that the reinforcement member is provided between the first thermoplastic member and the second thermoplastic member but not adhesively bonded or overmolded therebetween. A method of manufacturing a structural joint assembly and a structural joint assembly manufactured by a method are disclosed. The methods include molding a first thermoplastic member with a protrusion with fibrous material and a second thermoplastic member. A reinforcement member has a receptacle and is mounted to the first thermoplastic member. The receptacle is retained by the protrusion without adhesive bonding or overmolding. The second thermoplastic member is joined to the first thermoplastic member. | 03-25-2010 |
20100207430 | SHINGLED THIN SEAT CONSTRUCTION FOR VEHICLE - A shingled thin seat back for a vehicle having a generally centrally-located panel which is movable in the rearward direction when the seat is occupied and which is immovable in the forward direction when folded flat to accept a load. The seat back includes a support structure which provides support to the movable panel. The support structure includes at least one edge and the panel includes at least one edge. The panel is movable from a first position where the edge of the support structure and the edge of the panel are in overlapping contact (creating a shingled arrangement) to a second position where the edge of the support structure and the edge of the panel are not in contact with one another but instead are spaced apart from one another. | 08-19-2010 |
20110298240 | MONOPOD SEAT STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMOTIVE SEATS AND METHOD - A monopod seat structure including first and second sides. A back is pivotally connected to the seat. A vertical support column is disposed below the seat and positioned substantially centrally between the first and second sides of the seat. A side support member includes a top portion operably connected to one of the first and second sides. A bottom portion is operably connected to a transmission hump of a vehicle. | 12-08-2011 |
20110298250 | MODULAR FRONT SEAT BACK PANEL - A seat assembly having a seat and a seat back that is pivotally connected to the seat. A back cover is disposed on a rear portion of the seat back. The back cover includes an interior side and an exterior side. The interior side includes a plurality of laterally-extending ribs aligned with a plurality of engagement members. At least one vertically-extending channel is disposed on the exterior side of the back cover. | 12-08-2011 |
20120007399 | INTEGRATED LUMBAR FOR THIN SEAT - A seat having a trim carrier. A flexible region includes a base portion integrally connected with the trim carrier and a distal portion. A connector includes a first end connected to the distal portion and a second end connected to a motor. Actuation of the motor draws the connector and consequently the distal portion downward toward the base portion, thereby arcing the flexible region. | 01-12-2012 |
20120032466 | TRANSVERSE SLIDING/ACCOMMODATION EASY ENTRY SEAT - A vehicle having a door opening defining a threshold. A slide system includes a track operably connected to the vehicle. A slide is linearly moveable relative to the track. A seat is operably connected to the slide. The slide is laterally movable between a retracted position that corresponds with the seat being positioned inside the vehicle and an extended position that corresponds with the seat being disposed in the threshold. | 02-09-2012 |
20120061988 | ULTRA-THIN SEAT CARRIER - A seating assembly having a seat and a seat back. A frame assembly is disposed in each of the seat and the seat back. A carrier assembly is operably coupled with the seat and the seat back. The carrier assembly includes a plurality of elongate support tabs proximate the seat. A plurality of apertures and at least one groove are proximate the seat back. A cushion extends over the seat and the seat back. | 03-15-2012 |
20120104819 | Vehicle Seat with Rotating Angle Adjustment - A vehicle seat is movable in a rocking or rotating fashion about a center-of-rotation located above a seat bottom. The seat bottom has forward and rear edges and a mounting structure for securing the seat bottom to a vehicle interior engaging the seat bottom to permit movement of the forward edge along a first arcuate path and movement of the rear edge along a second arcuate path. The two arcuate paths having a common center-of-curvature located above the seat bottom, the center-of-curvature defining the center-of-rotation of the seat. A seat back attached to the seat bottom is independently adjustable in recline angle relative to the seat bottom. The arcuate paths may be defined by forward and rear guide tracks formed in one or more seat mounting brackets. A rack-and-pinion drive mechanism is provided to allow manual or powered adjustment of the seat along the guide tracks. | 05-03-2012 |
20130082478 | ADJUSTABLE FLOATING SEAT - A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a support base. A seat is supported on the support base and cantilevered forwardly therefrom. The support base includes a first brace operably connecting the frame with a first slide assembly disposed on a rocker panel of the vehicle. A second brace operably connects the frame with a second slide assembly disposed on a transmission tunnel of the vehicle. | 04-04-2013 |
20130082500 | FLIP-UP FLOATING SEAT - A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a frame having a seat and a seat back. The seat is operable between a substantially horizontal deployed position and a substantially vertical stowed position. A first brace operably connects the frame with a vehicle rocker panel. A second brace operably connects the frame with a vehicle transmission tunnel. | 04-04-2013 |
20130113257 | REVERSE PEDESTAL SEAT - A vehicle including a seat base having a first slide assembly disposed on each of first and second sides of the seat base. A first support column is disposed below the seat base and is positioned between the first and second sides of the seat base. A second support column is disposed below the second side of the seat base. A brace connects the second support column to a transmission hump of the vehicle. | 05-09-2013 |
20140001809 | EASY SLIM FOLD SEAT | 01-02-2014 |
20140015272 | Reinforced Thermoplastic Structural Joint Assembly For A Vehicle - A structural joint assembly for a vehicle is provided with a first thermoplastic composite member having a protrusion containing fibrous material. A reinforcement member is provided with a receptacle for mating engagement with the protrusion. A second thermoplastic member is mounted to the first thermoplastic member over the protrusion such that the reinforcement member is provided between the first thermoplastic member and the second thermoplastic member but not adhesively bonded or overmolded therebetween. A method of manufacturing a structural joint assembly and a structural joint assembly manufactured by a method are disclosed. The methods include molding a first thermoplastic member with a protrusion with fibrous material and a second thermoplastic member. A reinforcement member has a receptacle and is mounted to the first thermoplastic member. The receptacle is retained by the protrusion without adhesive bonding or overmolding. The second thermoplastic member is joined to the first thermoplastic member. | 01-16-2014 |
20140130299 | SOFT CLOSE MECHANISM FOR A CLOSURE - A soft close mechanism that may have a cam track housing, a damper housing, and a cam follower. The cam track housing may have first and second grooves. The damper housing may rotate with respect to the cam track housing. The cam follower may be disposed in the first groove when the damper housing is rotated in a first direction and may be disposed in the second groove when the damper housing is rotated in a second direction. | 05-15-2014 |
20140152058 | CLIMATE COMFORT SEAT ASSEMBLY - A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat structure. A carrier is disposed on the seat structure and includes a matrix of fluid transfer lines. A spacer material is positioned over the carrier. A trim cover is disposed over the spacer material. A desiccant is made from a volcanic ash and is supported by the seat structure. The matrix of fluid transfer lines thermodynamically influences a relative temperature of the trim cover through both the carrier and the desiccant. | 06-05-2014 |
20140159457 | VIRTUAL H-POINT SEAT BACK SYSTEM - A seat recliner system includes a seat back having a back support member configured to support the back of a passenger. A connecting member extends generally orthogonally from a lower end of the back support member. The connecting member includes a front portion and a rear portion. A seat base includes a forward link operably coupled to the front portion of the connecting member. A rearward link is operably coupled to the rear portion of the connecting member such that the seat back is rotatable about a virtual hip-point of a passenger that is above the seat base and forward of the seat back. | 06-12-2014 |
20140203599 | SEATING ASSEMBLY WITH AIR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - A vehicle seating assembly with a cooling system includes a seatback structure with a permeable passenger support which is coupled with the seatback structure. The passenger support has a back support surface and a rear surface. A concave shell has a peripheral edge which is coupled with the rear surface of the passenger support. A conduit member has an intake opening between the passenger support and the shell and an exhaust opening. An air chamber is coupled with the exhaust opening of the conduit member and has a fan on an exterior portion of the air chamber to draw air from the back support surface through the air chamber. | 07-24-2014 |
20140203603 | FLEXIBLE SEATBACK SYSTEM - A vehicle seat suspension system includes first and second side supports defining a seatback structure. An upper component and a lower component are provided, each including at least two outwardly extending flex members. A passenger support includes a periphery operably coupled to distal ends of the flex members. An external peripheral gap is defined between the passenger support and the seatback structure. | 07-24-2014 |
20140203606 | THIN SEAT FLEX REST COMPOSITE CUSHION EXTENSION - A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat defining a seating area and an actuation assembly. An elongate flexible member includes a first end pivotally coupled to the seat and a second end operably coupled with the actuation assembly. The elongate flexible member is pivotally moveable between raised and lowered positions and operable between a retracted position and an extended position. The elongate flexible member enlarges the effective seating area. | 07-24-2014 |
20140203607 | THIN SEAT LEG SUPPORT SYSTEM AND SUSPENSION - A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat defining a seating area. An internal flex member is disposed in the seat. An external flex member is proximate a forward edge of the seat. A first actuation assembly is operably coupled to the internal flex member to raise a portion of the seat. A second actuation assembly translates the external flex member between a retracted position and an extended position that enlarges the effective seating area. | 07-24-2014 |
20140203610 | UPPER SEATBACK PIVOT SYSTEM - A vehicle seating assembly includes first and second side supports defining a seatback structure that is operable between upright and reclined positions. A motorized actuation assembly is disposed between the first and second side supports and is operably coupled to a pivot bar that is rotatably coupled with the seatback structure. An upper seatback suspension component is coupled to the pivot bar. The upper seatback suspension component automatically pivots relative to the pivot bar to a rearward position when the seatback structure is in the upright position and automatically pivots relative to the pivot bar to a forward position when the seatback structure is in the reclined position. An external peripheral gap is defined between the upper seatback suspension component and the seatback structure. | 07-24-2014 |
20140203611 | ARTICULATING HEADREST ASSEMBLY - A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback, a headrest, and a support structure that extends between the headrest and the seatback. The support structure includes a primary member, a secondary member, and a trim piece that encloses the primary and secondary members. The primary member pivotally couples with the headrest and the seatback. The secondary member has an upper end and a lower end. The upper end pivotally couples with the headrest about a lateral axis and is spaced from the primary member. A first actuator couples between with the primary member and the seatback for rotating the headrest between a rearward position and a forward position. A second actuator couples between the lower end of the secondary member and the seatback to move the headrest between a first angle and a second angle. | 07-24-2014 |
20140203614 | INTEGRATED THIN FLEX COMPOSITE HEADREST ASSEMBLY - A vehicle headrest assembly includes a head restraint operably coupled to a vehicle seatback and having a head support surface. A flexible member includes a top portion operably coupled to the head restraint. The flexible member includes an intermediate portion adjacent the head support surface, a lower portion, and an upper back support disposed on the vehicle seatback and defining an elongated slot through which the flexible member extends. An actuation system is operably coupled to the lower portion of the flexible member. The actuation system operates to move the flexible member through the slot between a deployed position and a non-deployed position. | 07-24-2014 |
20140203617 | INDEPENDENT CUSHION EXTENSION AND THIGH SUPPORT - A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat frame. A first leg support is pivotally coupled with a forward portion of the seat frame. The first leg support is operable between raised and lowered positions. A first extendable member is disposed on a top portion of the first leg support and is operable between extended and retracted positions. A second leg support is adjacent to and independent of the first leg support and is pivotally coupled with the forward portion of the seat frame. The second leg support is operable between raised and lowered positions. A second extendable member is disposed on a top portion of the second leg support and is operable between extended and refracted positions. | 07-24-2014 |
20140203618 | QUICK-CONNECT TRIM CARRIER ATTACHMENT - A quick-connect assembly for a vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback structure. A suspension assembly includes a plurality of outwardly extending flex members. A removable trim carrier is disposed over upper and lower components and is removably coupled to distal ends of the plurality of outwardly extending flex members by a friction-fit connection. A cushion is operably coupled with the trim carrier. An external peripheral gap is defined between the passenger support and the seatback structure. | 07-24-2014 |
20140265501 | VEHICLE SEATING ASSEMBLY - A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback having a panel movable to a reclined position and a cushion slidably coupled with the panel to slide down in the reclined position. A base is pivotally supporting the panel and has a concave portion. A seat has a bottom portion slidably coupled with the concave portion for sliding the seat to an upward angle when the panel moves to the reclined position. | 09-18-2014 |
20140361571 | ARTICULATING CUSHION BOLSTER FOR INGRESS/EGRESS - A vehicle seating assembly having a seat base and a seat back. Bolsters extend laterally from one of the seat base and the seat back and include a bolster support having a hinge assembly and an abutment member and a substantially planar engagement surface disposed therebetween. A flexible cushion overlies the bolster support. A spring-biased dynamic member is operably coupled with one of the seat back and the seat base and is slidably engaged with the substantially planar engagement surface. The spring-biased dynamic member is operable between articulated and unarticulated positions. The spring-biased dynamic member moves to the articulated position upon initiation of a user-initiated event. | 12-11-2014 |
20140361590 | ARTICULATING SEAT BOLSTERS - A vehicle seating assembly for a vehicle having a seat back and a seat. Bolsters extend laterally from one of the seat back and the seat and include a static projection, a cushion, and a dynamic projection disposed between the static projection and the cushion. The dynamic projection is operably coupled to one of the seat back and the seat. An articulation feature is disposed between the dynamic projection and the static projection and is operable between articulated and unarticulated conditions. A control is operably coupled to the articulation feature and is operational to move the articulation feature between the articulated and unarticulated conditions, which consequently move the dynamic projection relative to the static projection, respectively, thereby adjusting the angle of the cushion relative to one of the seat back and the seat. | 12-11-2014 |
20150145303 | FLEXIBLE SEATBACK SYSTEM - A vehicle seat suspension system includes first and second side supports that define a seatback frame. A front trim piece is coupled between the first and second side supports. A suspension component is coupled with a central area of the front trim piece and has flexible members protruding forward and outward therefrom. A passenger support panel has a periphery coupled to distal ends of the flexible members and suspended away from the seatback frame. | 05-28-2015 |
20150204130 | Door Closing Apparatus - An apparatus to facilitate vehicle door closing includes a rack gear engaging a pinion gear that are connected between the door and a hinge pillar. A spring is operatively connected to the pinion gear stores energy during a portion of a door opening motion and releases the stored energy to bias the door to close. A damper operatively connects the spring and the door to limit the door closing speed during a portion of the door closing motion. A power cinching mechanism may be operatively coupled to the door closing apparatus to assist in the final closing motion of the door. | 07-23-2015 |