Johnson Controls Technology Company

Adient Engineering and IP Gmbh

Johnson Controls Technology LLC

Gregory Steinke

Kurt A Seibold

William Shawn Brewer

Glenn Scott

Timothy S Myers

Mark A Pattok

Liviu Rus

Dorel Baciu

Matt Romak

Carlos F Lopez

A vehicle seat carpet backer assembly includes a carpet piece and resin/fiber material joined and molded to form a resin/fiber backer panel of a defined shape. A flexible toe-kick portion is provided a seamless transition between the upper carpet portion of the resin/fiber, upper carpet, panel portion and the lower carpet portion of the flexible toe-kick portion. A method includes providing a carpet piece cut to a size and shape and a sized resin/fiber panel material. The resin/fiber panel material is heated and placed with a top section of the carpet in a molding press to fuse them together. A shaped assembly is then formed with flanges which are inserted in channels of a seat. A polypropylene reinforcement sheet is attached to a lower section of the carpet that was not subjected to the molding press. Elastic bands are sewn to the lower edge of the backer assembly.

Rigid carpet vehicle seat backer arrangement and vehicle seat with rigid carpet seat backer arrangement

Attachment mechanisms are provided that may be riveted on one end and welded on another flanged end. The flanges may allow the rivets to be welded to a frame or other part without additional support plates. In certain embodiments, the rivets may simplify manufacturing and packaging as well as reduce the weight of the attachment mechanism. The attachment mechanisms may promote load distribution, allow for the use of thinner materials, facilitate attachment to heat treated materials, allow for attachment of parts that are difficult to access, reduce fixturing, and improve manufacturing efficiency, among other things.

Weldable attachment mechanisms

A seat back assembly for a vehicle including a seat back, a pivot device having a pivot axis, and an armrest. The seat back is connected to the pivot device for rotational movement relative to the seat cushion between an upright position and a folded position. The armrest is connected to the pivot device for rotational movement relative to the seat back between a deployed position and retracted position. Both the seat back and the armrest pivot about a common pivot axis. The seat back assembly (1) impedes the rotational movement of the armrest beyond the retracted position; (2) holds the armrest in the retracted position when the seat back is in the fold position; and (3) urges the arm rest from the deployed position to the retracted position during rotational movement of the seat back from the upright position to the folded position.

Seat reclining mechanism with integrated seat armrest features

Growing community of inventors

Brighton, MI, United States of America

Gregory Steinke