Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Herman Miller, Inc.

Kelly E Washburn

Randy J Sayers

Craig Martin Oomen

Robert A Bratty

Michael Long

Samuel Smith

Timothy P Coffield

John Fredric Aldrich

Christopher C Hill

Andrew B Hartmann

James Slagh

Ryan S Brill

Michael D Stanton, Sr

Kenneth A Longstreet

Pierre Tremblay

Manfred Mueller

David B Nordquist

Michael Case

Michael Stanton

James D Slagh

Michael D 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 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 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 system for hiding flash in a suspension seat includes a frame having a channel having at least one wall, a fabric seat surface and a carrier over-molded onto the seat surface. The carrier has a wall and is over-molded onto the seat surface such that the seat surface extends from the wall. The carrier and a portion of the seat surface at a juncture of the carrier and the seat surface are positioned in the channel with the portion of the seat surface abutting the wall of the channel, such that flash formed at the juncture of the carrier and the seat surface is positioned against the wall of the channel. A seat formed thereby and a method for making the seat are disclosed.

System and method for hiding molding flash

A method for manufacturing a multi-layered support structure provides ergonomic, adaptable seating support. The method providing multiple cooperative layers to maximize global comfort and support while enhancing adaptation to localized variations in a load, such as in the load applied when a person sits in a chair. The cooperative layers each include elements such as pixels, springs, support rails, and other elements to provide this adaptable comfort and support. The method for manufacturing the multi-layered support structure uses aligned material to provide a flexible yet durable support structure. Accordingly, the method provides a multi-layered support structure, which provides maximum comfort for a wide range of body shapes and sizes.

Method for manufacturing a multi-layered support structure

A multi-layered support structure provides ergonomic, adaptable seating support. The multi-layered support structure includes multiple cooperative layers to maximize global comfort and support while enhancing adaptation to localized variations in a load, such as in the load applied when a person sits in a chair. The cooperative layers each include elements such as pixels, springs, support rails, and other elements to provide this adaptable comfort and support. The multi-layered support structure also uses aligned material to provide a flexible yet durable support structure. Accordingly, the multi-layered support structure provides maximum comfort for a wide range of body shapes and sizes.

Multi-layered support structure

An apparatus and method for molding a component onto a stretched blank. The apparatus includes a stretching assembly mounted adjacent to a first mold part. The stretching assembly includes a plurality of clamp assemblies that grasp the peripheral edge of the blank and a plurality of slide assemblies that move the clamp assemblies away from one another to apply a stretch to the fabric. The apparatus further includes a press for closing a second mold part onto the first mold part while the fabric is held in a stretched condition by the stretching assembly. In one embodiment, the stretching assembly may include a float plate that is movable with respect to the first mold part between a stretch position and a mold position. The apparatus may include a robot with tooling for moving the fabric onto the stretching assembly. The tooling may include a plurality of shot pins that push the fabric off of the tooling onto corresponding fabric pins in the stretching machine.

Apparatus and method for molding onto a stretched blank

An apparatus and method for molding a component onto a stretched blank. The apparatus includes a stretching assembly mounted adjacent to a first mold part. The stretching assembly includes a plurality of clamp assemblies that grasp the peripheral edge of the blank and a plurality of slide assemblies that move the clamp assemblies away from one another to apply a stretch to the fabric. The apparatus further includes a press for closing a second mold part onto the first mold part while the fabric is held in a stretched condition by the stretching assembly. In one embodiment, the stretching assembly may include a float plate that is movable with respect to the first mold part between a stretch position and a mold position. The apparatus may include a robot with tooling for moving the fabric onto the stretching assembly. The tooling may include a plurality of shot pins that push the fabric off of the tooling onto corresponding fabric pins in the stretching machine. In one embodiment, the apparatus include a stretch measuring device adapted to measure the stretch applied to the fabric.

Growing community of inventors

Allegan, MI, United States of America

Kelly E Washburn