Lear Corporation

Eric Repke

Lisa Swikoski

Joshua Hallock

Michelle A Pereny

Curtis Hudson

Mark Karges

James Gerry Williams

Christopher D Johnson

A method is provided with a stranded mesh material blank inserted into a cavity of a tool assembly shaped to form a cushion member. Fluid is circulated above a first temperature threshold through a series of apertures defined in a forming surface of the tool assembly and into the cavity thereby softening the blank and conforming a shape of the blank to the forming surface. Fluid is circulated below a second temperature threshold through the series of apertures in the forming surface and into the cavity thereby setting the shape of the blank to the forming surface and forming a cushion member. A cushion for a seat assembly is provided by a stranded mesh material member. A system is provided with a first tool, a second tool, and one or more inlet manifolds.

Seat assembly, cushion, and tool and method of forming

An assembly is provided with a funnel having one or more side walls extending from an entrance to an outlet, and a liner having one or more elastic panels, with the liner extending over an inner surface of the one or more side walls. A system is provided with the assembly, a die, a fluid bath, and at least one hose to direct fluid from the fluid bath onto the liner of the assembly. A method includes covering an inner surface of a funnel with a liner comprising one or more elastic panels, wetting the liner, and forming a stranded mesh material member by extruding material from a die and through the funnel. A stranded mesh material member is provided and formed using the method.

Method and apparatus for producing a vehicle interior component

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Milford, MI, United States of America

Eric Repke