Lear Corporation

Alfmeier Corporation

Lear Seating Corporation

Alfmeier Prazision Ag Baugruppen Und Systemlosungen

Andrew J Massara

James C Masters

Philip W Leistra, Iii

Brandon R Vogt

Russell K Davidson

John C Wainwright

Mark Allyn Folkert

Richard Lawrence Matsu

Sheryar Durrani

David T Fu

Eric A Partington

Michael Wöhrle

Jürgen Hofmockel

Urban Knöpfle

Vijay Musukula

Donald A Lux

Rich Sanders

Torsten Aeugle

Greg Allison

Dan Bateson

Majid Arefi

Steve Lambrecht

Rolf Schäfer

Wolfram-H Hofschulte

Douglas Jablonski

Steven T Gamache

The invention relates to a vehicle seat with a back rest having a frame () and a lordosis support (), with the following additional configuration: The lordosis support () comprises a pressure plate () that is essentially bend resistant in at least the transverse direction of the seat or the Y-direction, forms a supporting surface in the lordosis region of the back rest and is arranged between two side frame parts () of the frame (); there is at least one holding element () that extends between the side frame parts () with a length-variable adjustment section (), which runs in the Y-direction and connects to the pressure plate (), and is affixed there at fixing points () arranged opposite each other; in an inoperative position, the pressure plate () is arranged with a horizontal clearance () or a clearance in the X-direction behind the fixing points (); there is a driving device with which the length of the adjustment section can be shortened as the horizontal clearance is reduced.

Vehicle seat with lordosis support

An adjustable lumbar support () adapted to be easily integrated into new or existing seat structures. Adjustable lumbar support () includes a floating plate () supported by a support linkage. In one embodiment, the support linkage is defined by a cable member () and first and second spring members () and () which engage the seat frame. In an alternate embodiment, the support linkage is defined by first and second spring membersengaged with first and second linkage members (), respectively, and includes a rotary power mechanism () for applying a rotating motion to a shaft () threadably engaged with first and second linkage members (). The degree of support provided by floating plate () is adjusted by adjusting the effective length of the support linkage. Lumbar support mechanism () can be mounted in a state of the art seat back alone or in conjunction with an integral trim attachment array (). Trim attachment array () is adapted to replace the trim wires molded into the cushion foam of a standard seat. Integral trim attachment array () is defined by a trim ring () having integrated pinch clips (). The trim ring has a rectilinear configuration adapted to conform to the outline of the seat back. Trim ring () is, preferably molded into the seat back foam as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Linkages () are utilized to link a plurality of trim rings () together or to link trim ring () to floating support plate ().

Integrated adjustable lumbar support and trim attachment system

An adjustable lumbar support () adapted to be easily integrated into new or existing seat structures. Adjustable lumbar support () includes a lower floating plate () that is adapted to have a second, or upper, plate () hinged relative to the lower plate (). The upper and lower plates have independently actuated support linkages (and) that are selectively actuated by first and second actuating mechanisms. In this manner, selective actuation actuator mechanisms associated with the lower and upper support plates (and) provides adjustment of a vertical dimension of the adjustable floating plate lumbar support. The degree of support provided by floating plates (and) is adjusted by adjusting the effective length of the support linkages.

Adjustable floating plate lumber support

An adjustable lumbar support () adapted to be integrated into new or existing seat structures. Adjustable lumbar support () includes a floating plate () supported by a support linkage. In one embodiment, the support linkage is defined by first and second spring members () and () which engage the seat frame. In an alternate embodiment, the support linkage is defined by first and second spring members () and () engaged with first and second linkage members (), respectively, and includes a rotary power mechanism () for applying a rotating motion to a shaft () threadably engaged with first and second linkage members (). The degree of support provided by floating plate () is adjusted by adjusting the effective length of the support linkage. Lumbar support mechanism () can be mounted in a seat back alone or in conjunction with an integral trim attachment array (). Trim attachment array () is adapted to replace the trim wires molded into the cushion foam of a standard seat.

A vehicle seat assembly includes a rear seat having a recess formed at a forward side thereof and a tray housing positioned in the recess. A foldable tray is positioned in the housing and movable between a stowed position within the housing and a deployed position for use. The tray and tray housing are configured such that in the stowed position the tray and housing are disposed within the seat recess below the knees of a passenger seated thereon such that it does not interfere with passenger knee space.

Stowable rear seat tray table

A front seat assembly (10), comprising first and second seats, is to be installed as a unit into a vehicle (12). A plurality of brackets (18) and (20) are attached to fixed rails (16) for attachment to the vehicle (12) and for interconnecting the fixed rails (16) of the two seats making up the front seat assembly (10). A slide rail (24) is supported by each of the fixed rails (16) for fore and aft movement relative to the fixed rails (16) and a pair of front (28) and rear (30) cross beams interconnect the slide rails (24) for supporting all of the remaining components of each seat. The rear cross beam (30) has an triangular cross section and a seat back (34) is supported on the rear cross beam (30) by flanges (32) having an triangular opening (36) complementary to and surrounding the rear cross beam (30). A support sheet (40) extends between and is supported by the cross beams (28) and (30) and a seat pan (42) is disposed above the support sheet (40) for supporting an occupant. A rear bladder (44) and a front bladder (46) are disposed between the sheet (40) and the pan (42) for raising and lowering the respective back and front of the pan (42) relative to the sheet (40) for adjusting the position of the seat. A stylized seat bottom trim (60) is supported on the pan (42) and a stylized back trim (62) is supported on the seat back frame (34). A center console (70) is supported on the frame members (20) between the first and second seat assemblies and a cover (68) is disposed over each of outside and laterally disposed pair of fixed (16) and slide (24) rails.

Automotive modular seat frame assembly

An adjustable seat assembly for an automobile comprises a seat portion which is slidably mounted for movement between fore and aft adjusted positions within a passenger compartment of the automobile. A pair of elongated power screws under the seat portion adjust the fore and aft position of the seat assembly in response to a reversible rotary input from a universal motor. The seat portion includes a pair of internal air bladders which independently inflate and deflate to adjust the height and tilt of the seat portion. A backrest portion extends upwardly from the seat portion, and may include a pneumatic lumbar adjustment device and other contour-adjusting air bladders. The universal motor operates both the power screws and the pneumatic adjustment devices. A transmission is operatively connected to the universal motor for selectively transmitting reversible rotary input to the power screws and pressurized fluid to any one of the pneumatic adjustment devices. The transmission includes a pinion sidably disposed along the spline of the universal motor output shaft, and a pair of spur gears disposed one each on a pneumatic pump and a rotary power take-off. A shuttle forces the pinion between alternating engagement with the spur gears. Every other tooth of the pinion is relieved at its ends to facilitate running engagement without an intermediate clutch. In an alternative embodiment of the transmission, an intermediate clutch is stationed between the output shaft of the universal motor and the pinion, and the pneumatic pump is continuously engaged with the universal motor but vents to atmosphere when the clutch is engaged.

Power seat drive system

A seat (10) includes a backrest portion (16) and a seat portion (14) for supporting a cushion (12). The backrest portion (16) includes a back frame (18) which supports an expansion bladder (28) for expanding and retracting to provide lumbar support. A longitudinal plate (34) is fixedly connected to the frame (18) at a first end (36) and placed over the bladder (28) to provide lumbar support in response to selective expansion of the bladder (28). A second end (38) of the plate (34) is slidably connected within a rotatable member (46). The rotatable member (46) allows bending of the second end (38) to provide thoracic support separate from the lumbar support.

Flexible membrane back support

The seat back flanges (32) mount a seat back (34) to a seat frame for reclining movement relative to the seat frame and a control mechanism controls the pivotal movement of the seat back (34). The control mechanism includes a tubular cylinder (54) and a first coil spring (56) is wound around and in gripping engagement with the cylinder (54). The cylinder (54) is non-rotatably secured to the seat frame by being welded or otherwise secured to the flanges (32). The first coil spring (56) has first (58) and second (60) ends extending tangentially from the cylinder (54). A second coil spring (62) is wound in the opposite direction around and is in gripping engagement with the cylinder (54) and, likewise, has third (64) and fourth (66) ends extending tangentially from the cylinder (54). A cam shaft (72) is included for moving the second end (60) relative to the first end (58) for unwinding the first coil spring (56) in a clockwise direction from the gripping engagement with the cylinder (54) to allow the pivotal movement of the seat back (34) relative to the seat frame and for moving the fourth end (66) relative to the third end (64) for unwinding the second coil spring (62) in a counterclockwise direction from the gripping engagement with the cylinder (54) to allow the pivotal movement of the seat back relative to the seat frame.

Automotive seat back recliner

An automotive rear seat assembly having a seat back with a top and a bottom for supporting the back of an occupant. A package tray extends from the top of the seat back to an outer periphery. A rotational connection is disposed between the package tray and the top of the seat back which pivotally connects the package tray to the seat back. The rear seat assembly may be shipped with the package tray overlying the seat back and installed in a vehicle by rotating the package tray relative to the seat back to a position transverse to the seat back. Accordingly, the package tray and seat back may be installed within the vehicle as one unitary piece.

Rear seat and package tray sub assembly

An automotive seat back (34) which comprises a pair of spaced upright members (40) each having lower ends rotatably supported on pivot pins (38) and interconnected by a cross member (42) extending between the upper ends. A shoulder belt housing (44) extends upwardly between the upright members (40) from below the cross member (42) to a distal end (46) disposed above and outside the cross member (42). Crisscrossing truss elements (52) interconnect the upright members (40) and the housing (44) to suspend the housing (44) within the periphery of the seat back as defined by the upright members (40) and the cross member (42). The upright members (40) and the cross member (42) and the truss elements (52) and the housing (44) are all integrally die cast of magnesium. The housing (44) includes a coffin portion, defined by side walls (54) and a bottom (56), and a cover (58) disposed over and in sealing engagement with the side walls (54). The cover (58) of the housing (44) includes a guideway (62) for a shoulder belt (50). To accommodate the angled exit of the belt (50) from the angled belt opening (48), the guideway (62) has a compound curve to prevent the edges of the shoulder belt (50) from gathering.

Automotive seat back

A vehicular seat assembly (10) includes a pair of bolsters (18, 20) located on either side of the seat back (14). Each of the bolsters (18, 20) includes a primary adjustor (22) which moves the bolster (18, 20) to a position found to be comfortable by the occupant of the seat (10). Each of the bolsters (18, 20) further include a secondary adjustor (26) disposed adjacent the first adjustor (22). The two secondary adjustors (26) operate independently of each other and deploy when the seat assembly (10) senses a predetermined level of lateral acceleration forces (36 or 38). An accelerometer (34) senses the lateral acceleration (36, 38) and a control circuit (32) sends a signal to an activator (40) to deploy the one of the two secondary adjustors (26).

Acceleration compensating vehicular seat assembly

A seat (10) including a backrest portion (16) with seat back support (24) providing selective lumbar support to a user. The seat back support (24) includes a pair of clam-shell shaped air bladders (28, 30) with their movable, expanding ends (36, 38) facing one another. Divider members (42, 44) split each of the bladders (28, 30) into separate side-by-side air sections to maintain the clam-shell shape of the bladders (28, 30) preventing bowing in the center of the seat back (14). The bladders (28, 30) support and move a flexible plate (70) connected thereover to provide selective contoured adjustment to the lumbar region of a user.

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Andrew J Massara