Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Craig Martin Oomen

Samuel Smith

Randy J Sayers

Manfred Mueller

Robert A Bratty

Kelly E Washburn

Michael Long

Michael Stanton

A seat assembly includes a fabric component with a seat surface and with an interior segment directly attached to the fabric component. The interior segment extends from an exterior segment that has a greater flexural resistance than the interior segment.

Apparatus and method for manufacturing a fabric suspension seat structure

A method for making a seat includes the step of overmolding a carrier onto a fabric seat surface. The fabric surface is formed from a woven fabric material having heating element fibers. The heating element fibers are placed in contact with a conductor. The carrier and the conductor are then positioned into a frame.

Suspension fabric seat heating system

A load bearing surface includes a woven fabric surface and a carrier () overmolded onto the fabric surface. Portions of the woven fabric are bonded to the carriers () o as to remain fixed relative to the carrier during normal loading conditions and during abnormally high loading conditions. Other portions () of the woven fabric are bonded to the carrier so as to remain fixed relative to the carrier during normal loading conditions and to move or slip within the carrier, or to rupture, during abnormally high loading conditions.

Load bearing surface with kinetic energy management fabric

A seat assembly includes a fabric component having a seat surface and a frame including an interior segment directly attached to the fabric component. The interior segment extends from an exterior segment that has a greater flexural resistance than the interior segment.

A vehicle seat includes a support structure, a seat surface () and a molded polymeric frame (). The frame has an edge region and the seat surface () is mounted to the frame () and the frame is mounted to the support structure. At least a portion of the edge region is flexible.

Compliant edge frame bolster for suspension seating

A seat assembly includes a frame, a seating base layer, a compression limiter layer, a load distribution layer, and an adjustment module. The seating base layer is arranged on the frame. The compression limiter layer is arranged adjacent to the seating base layer and comprises a wave portion forming a knee support. The load distribution layer is connected to the compression limiter layer. The adjustment module is movable between a rear position and a forward position and is configured to move the wave portion between a retracted position and an extended position. The wave portion has one of more first wave elements formed as springs and one or more second wave elements formed as springs. The first wave elements are offset from the second wave elements in a radial direction.

Seat assembly having compression limiter with wave portion

A seat includes a seat surface having a periphery and a carrier overmolded onto the seat surface over the periphery. The carrier has a periphery and a frame is overmolded onto the carrier over the carrier periphery. The seat is assembled without fasteners. A method for making the seat includes overmolding a carrier onto a periphery of a seat surface to form a seat surface/carrier assembly, tensioning the seat surface/carrier assembly in a mold and overmolding a frame onto a periphery of the seat surface/carrier assembly.

Suspension seating surface edge encapsulation method, seating surface carrier and seat made therewith

A suspended fabric seat includes a frame, a woven fabric suspended in the frame and a plurality of compression limiters attached to the woven fabric. The woven fabric is formed from monofilament fibers that are oriented in a first direction and textile fibers oriented in a second direction transverse to the first direction. The plurality of compression limiters are oriented in the first direction and are formed from a material compatible with the woven fabric. A method for making the suspended fabric seat is also disclosed.

Seat comprising suspension fabric with compression limiters

A seat and cooling system for the seat include a porous seat surface, an air spacer disposed on a side of the seat surface that defines an air channel, a substantially air impermeable barrier having an opening therein in communication with the air channel and a blower configured to draw air through the seat surface and from the air channel. Air drawn from around an occupant on the seat surface draws moisture from the occupant, causing moisture to evaporate, to provide a cooling sensation.

Suspension fabric seat cooling system

A seat assembly includes a frame, a seating base layer arranged on the frame and a compression limiter layer arranged on the seating base layer. The compression limiter layer includes a coil portion and a wave portion having a curved profile. The wave portion includes a plurality of wave elements and one or more ribs connected between the wave elements. The seat assembly further includes a load distribution layer connected to the compression limiter layer and an adjustment module movable between a rear position and a forward position. The adjustment module is configured to move the wave portion between a retracted position and an extended position.

A suspension fabric seat includes a fabric seat surface formed from a woven fabric material having heating element fibers. The heating element fibers are in electrical communication with a conductor. A carrier is overmolded onto the seat surface. The carrier and the conductor are disposed in a frame and a connector is mounted to the frame in electrical communication with the conductor.

A method for conditioning a load bearing surface includes positioning an oriented polymeric membrane in a mount and applying a force to the polymeric membrane so as to create a stress in the membrane. The stressed membrane is heated to a temperature no less than about a temperature that the load bearing surface is expected endure in use. The membrane is maintained at the temperature for a first period of time sufficient to heat the entirety of the membrane and the it is cooled while maintaining the stress on the membrane. Following a predetermined cool down period, the applied stress is removed for availability of the end use product. A seating surface for use in a vehicle that is subjected to an elevated temperature is also disclosed.

Method for conditioning a load bearing surface and a surface formed thereby

A cushioned load bearing seating surface includes a suspension layer, a membrane and a load distribution layer. The membrane is positioned between the suspension layer and the load distribution layer. The membrane includes a base and a plurality of molded, oriented, piston-like projections extending from the base. The membrane defines intermediate portions between each projection and the base that extend in a direction opposite the projections. The projections are compressible from a first state to a compressed state under load and return to the first state upon removing the load. The intermediate portions flex to accommodate at least a portion of the projections as the projections are compressed. A molded, piston pixelated membrane and a method for making the membrane are disclosed.

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Lowell, MI, United States of America

Craig Martin Oomen