Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Christian J Hosbach

Johnathan Andrew Line

Marcos Silva Kondrad

Patrick Maloney

Mandeep Singh Sidhu

John Wayne Jaranson

Nicholas Alphonse Billardello

Marc Silva Kondrad

David Frederick Lyons

Rodney Charles Brinker

Vishal Vinayak Nageshkar

Keith Allen Godin

Sangram Laxman Tamhankar

Kevin VanNieulande

Carol Diane Casey

Daniel Ferretti

Kevin Wayne Preuss

Victoria Leigh Schein

Kevin Mozurkewich

Adam Michael Sachs

Brett E Ronzi

Brandon W Nichols

Spencer Robert Hoernke

Richard Joseph Soyka, Jr

Andrew Bernard Matusko

Jonathan Weiler

Balakrishna Reddy

Jason William Nisbett

Corbin Johnston

Alex Perkins

Brian Matthew Thiel

Annette Lynn Huebner

Alan George Dry

S M Akbar Berry

Kristin Ann Hellman

Peter A Friedman

Ari Garo Caliskan

Artur Stanislavovich Sakarian

Robert Damerow

David Andree

Sean David Fannin

Yalie Yan-rush

Manoj Desai

Martin Voelker

Christopher Bondanza

Brian John Roorda

Ryan Welch

Michael Steven Medoro

Matthew B Rutman

Chris Fredriksson

Paul Iacoban

Gunnar Groesbeck

Josh Greiner

Scott Ferrier

Corbin S Johnston

Mbathie Diop

Benjamin Craig

Lisa E Petrauskas

A vehicle assembly method includes assembling a chassis platform, mounting a floor pan to the platform, mounting a modular interior to the floor pan, assembling a body top-hat separate from the platform and the floor pan, and mounting the body top-hat to the platform and the floor pan after mounting the modular interior to the floor pan.

Method of assembling vehicle including an integrated interior module and top-hat

A seat assembly includes a seatback having a cushioned component pivotally coupled to the seatback and operable between deployed and retracted positions. The cushioned component includes an interior cavity. A rack assembly is positioned within the interior cavity and includes a forward-most rack with a first receiving area. The rack assembly further includes a rearward-most rack having a second receiving area. A first cartridge assembly is removeably received in the first receiving area of the rack assembly. A second cartridge assembly is removeably received in the second receiving area of the rack assembly. The rack assembly may also include one or more intermediate rack assemblies positioned between the forward-most and rearward-most rack assemblies for supporting other intermediate cartridge assemblies. Each cartridge assembly includes a different density profile for providing variated comfort settings to the seatback of the seat assembly.

Seat assembly having interchangeable cartridge assemblies for adjustable comfort settings

A seat assembly includes a cushioned component having a lattice matrix, wherein the lattice matrix includes a first portion defined by a first pattern of interconnected links which defines a first set of cells, and a second portion defined by a second pattern of interconnected links which defines a second set of cells. The first portion of the lattice matrix includes a density profile that is different than a density profile of the second portion of the lattice matrix. An air bladder is disposed within a core portion of the lattice matrix and includes a non-porous outer casing surrounding an interior cavity. The outer casing of the air bladder and the lattice matrix are integrated components comprised of a common material to define a monolithic structure created using an additive manufacturing process.

Seat assembly having cushion supports with integrated air bladders for pneumatic activation

A seat of a vehicle seating assembly includes a seat carrier, a thigh tilt housing, a thigh extension housing, and an inflatable member. The thigh tilt housing is coupled to a forward region of the seat carrier. A recess is defined by the thigh tilt housing, with the recess being positioned in an upper surface of the thigh tilt housing. A motor is received within the recess. The thigh extension housing is coupled to the motor, with the thigh extension housing being movable in a fore-aft direction relative to the thigh tilt housing. A fastener couples the thigh tilt housing to the seat carrier in a manner that permits pivotable motion of the thigh tilt housing along a vertical plane. The inflatable member is positioned between the seat carrier and the thigh tilt housing.

Vehicle seating assembly with thigh tilt

A vehicle seat includes a seat base operably coupled with a seatback and having a seat pan. An upper connector is positioned on the seat pan. A lift assembly is operably coupled with the seat pan and includes a bracket defining a bracket slot. An outer link has a first end rotatably coupled with the seat pan and a second end that includes a lower connector. The lower connector is slidably received by the bracket slot. An inner link has a first end rotatably coupled with the bracket and a second end that defines a link slot. The link slot is configured to receive the upper connector. A sector gear is configured to facilitate vertical translation of the seat base.

Scissor lift assembly

A seat mounting system includes a seat frame having a support surface and first and second side surfaces downwardly extending from opposed sides of the support surface. Mounting members are supported on the first and second side surfaces. The mounting members each include an inner layer, an outer layer, and a deformable core portion disposed therebetween. The mounting members each include a mounting aperture extending through the deformable core portion, such that the deformable core portion surrounds the mounting aperture. A base frame includes a receiving aperture disposed through a body portion of the base frame. The base frame is operably coupled to the seat frame by a fastener received through the receiving aperture of the base frame and further received through the mounting aperture of the mounting member.

Vehicle seat mounting system

A vehicle seat includes a seatback having an upper portion. An adjustable headrest assembly is supported on the upper portion of the seatback. The adjustable headrest assembly has a headrest bun and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the headrest bun between extended and retracted positions. A trim component is disposed on the upper portion of the seatback having a relief portion. The relief portion is configured to receive a portion of the adjustment mechanism as the headrest bun is driven towards the extended position. A flexible cover member is coupled to the trim component at the relief portion. The flexible cover member has a plate member operable between extend and retracted positions. The portion of the adjustment mechanism abuts an inner surface of the plate member to move the plate member towards the extended position as the headrest bun is driven towards the extended position.

Power head restraint flexible closeout cover

A vehicle seating assembly including a seat and a seatback pivotably coupled to the seat. The seatback includes a frame, a sub-frame member, a carrier, a cushion, and an inflatable member. The sub-frame member is pivotably coupled to an occupant-facing surface of the frame by a bracket. The carrier is coupled to the frame such that the sub-frame member is positioned between the frame and the carrier. The cushion is coupled to an occupant-facing surface of the carrier. The inflatable member is positioned between the occupant-facing surface of the frame and an interior surface of the sub-frame member. The inflatable member is operable between a deflated state and an inflated state. The inflatable member initiates pivotable motion of the sub-frame member of an axis defined by the bracket.

Upper thoracic support for vehicle seating assembly

A control system includes a joystick and a computer. The joystick includes a joystick body, a cover hingedly coupled to the joystick body and movable between an open position and a closed position, and an input located on the joystick body. The input is exposed by the cover when the cover is in the open position and concealed by the cover when the cover is in the closed position. The computer is programmed to enter a first mode in response to the cover moving from the open position to the closed position, to enter a second mode in response to both the cover moving from the closed position to the open position and the input being activated, and to remain in a same of the first and second modes in response to the cover moving from the closed position to the open position without the input being activated.

Joystick for vehicle

A seating assembly for a vehicle comprises: a cushion comprising an outer edge and a plurality of snap-fit-fasteners; and a carrier comprising an outer edge surface and a plurality of snap-fit receivers near the outer edge surface of the carrier arranged to receive the plurality of snap-fit fasteners; wherein the plurality of snap-fit receivers have received and are retaining the plurality of snap-fit fasteners such that the cushion is interconnected with the carrier; and wherein the plurality of snap-fit fasteners and plurality of receivers are arranged to prevent the edge of the cushion from rolling up. The cushion further comprises a lip having an inward facing surface; wherein the cushion at least partially surrounds the carrier with at least a portion of the inward facing surface of the lip facing the outer edge surface of the carrier.

Vehicle seating cushion with snap-fit fasteners to interconnect with snap-fit receivers on a structural support

A seat assembly includes a seat portion and a seatback. A cushioned component is disposed in either the seat portion or the seatback. The cushioned component includes a porous lattice matrix and non-porous first and second walls that are disposed within and surrounded by the lattice matrix. The first and second walls are spaced-apart from one another and disposed at opposed angles to define a channel therebetween. The lattice matrix and the first and second walls are deformable structures for supporting a seat occupant while still being able to channel air through the cushioned component. The lattice matrix and the first and second walls are contemplated to be integrally formed components defining a monolithic structure. The lattice matrix may include multiple sets of spaced-apart walls for channeling air through different portions of the cushioned component.

Seat assembly with cushioned components having an integrated air channeling system

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base. A floor track assembly includes a floor track having a roller track and a rack. At least one pinion gear is configured to rotate along the rack. At least one floor track motor is disposed adjacent to the floor track assembly. The at least one floor track motor rotates the at least one pinion gear along the rack to laterally translate the seat base fore and aft. An elevated track assembly is operably coupled to the floor track assembly. The seat base is coupled to the elevated track assembly. The elevated track assembly is laterally translatable relative to the floor track assembly.

Seat adjustment assembly

A seating assembly includes a shell assembly having a seat base coupled with a seatback. A base assembly is operably coupled with the shell assembly. The base assembly includes an outer portion defining an opening and an engagement slot. An inner portion is positioned through the opening of the outer portion. The inner portion includes a sidewall defining a receiving well. A barrel is positioned around the inner portion. The barrel defines a track extending helically from a lower end of the barrel to an upper end of the barrel. A bearing is received by the engagement slot, the receiving well, and the track. The bearing is movable along the engagement slot and the track simultaneously. An actuator is operably coupled with the barrel and is configured to rotate the barrel. Rotation of the barrel is configured to vertically translate the inner portion relative to the outer portion.

Vehicle seating assembly

A headrest assembly includes a front surface and a frame member disposed within an interior of the headrest bun. First and second hinge members are coupled to opposite sides of the frame member and first and second side supports are operably coupled to the first and second hinge members, such that the first and second side supports are independently operable between stowed and extended positions relative to the headrest bun. The first and second side supports extended outwardly from the front surface of the headrest bun in the extended position, and the friction hinges are tuned to move the first and second side supports towards the stowed position when the first and second side supports are contacted by a vehicle occupant during a vehicle impact event.

Adjustable headrest assembly with neck support feature

Growing community of inventors

Allen Park, MI, United States of America

Christian J Hosbach