Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Stabilus Gmbh

Leon Toma

Todd Muck

Peter James Moegling

Charles P Patterson

Matthew R Speck

Robert Joseph Hazlewood

Patrick J Edgar

Yi-Ru Chen Sosnowski

Kyle E Rosander

Lars Löhken

Raphael Piroth

Phouvadol P Khouphongsy

Chad Eric Anderson

Bill Deming

Jonathan San

Yashodhan Joshi

Christopher H DeRose

A kinetic seat assembly including a primary seat cushion frame including a rear rod extending between opposite rails, a secondary seat back frame movable relative to the primary seat cushion frame, a pair of clamps provided on the rear rod of the primary seat cushion frame, and a pair of vertical dampers coupled between the secondary seat back frame and the pair of clamps on the primary seat cushion frame, each clamp receiving an end of a corresponding vertical damper. In embodiments, the vertical dampers are arranged in a V-shape such that the vertical dampers are oriented at an angle relative to one another such that a distance between a first end of each vertical damper is greater than a distance between a second end of each vertical damper.

Seat assemblies having fixed frames and movable seat cushions and movable seat backs with vertical dampers and clamps coupling the vertical dampers to the fixed frames

A kinetic seat assembly includes primary seat cushion frame, a secondary seat cushion frame movable relative to the primary seat cushion frame, a primary seat back frame, and a secondary seat back frame movable relative to the primary seat back frame. In embodiments, the secondary seat back frame includes a power lumbar mechanism. In embodiments at least one of the secondary seat cushion frame and the secondary seat back frame includes at least one of a cooling mechanism and a heating mechanism.

Seat assemblies having fixed frames and movable seat cushions and movable seat backs with power lumbar mechanisms, tilt mechanisms, and heating/cooling mechanisms

A kinetic seat assembly includes a primary seat cushion frame, a secondary seat cushion frame movable relative to the primary seat cushion frame, a primary seat back frame, a secondary seat back frame movable relative to the primary seat back frame, a pair of lateral dampers extending between the primary seat back frame and the secondary seat back frame, a pair of vertical dampers extending between the secondary seat back frame and the primary seat cushion frame, a pair of fluid reservoirs for providing a fluid into the pair of lateral dampers and the pair of vertical dampers, and an electronic control unit configured to control the rate at which the fluid is provided to and drawn out of each of the dampers to control a damping effect. In embodiments, an end of the lateral dampers is permitted to move freely relative to the secondary seat back frame.

Kinetic seat assemblies having dampers for fixed components and movable components including lateral damping mechanisms and fluid reservoirs

A kinetic seat assembly includes a primary seat back frame, a secondary seat back frame, and an upper pivot mechanism coupling the secondary seat back frame to the primary seat back frame. The upper pivot mechanism includes a bracket, and a pivotable link extending from a pair of opposite sides of the bracket and interconnecting the bracket and the primary seat back frame. A first end of each of the pivotable links is pivotally attached to the bracket, which is coupled to the secondary seat back frame, and an opposite second end each of the pivotable links is pivotally fixed to the primary seat back frame. The secondary seat back frame is permitted to move in a kinetic seat vertical direction relative to the primary seat back frame as the pivotable links permit the bracket to move in the kinetic seat vertical direction relative to the primary seat back frame.

Seat assemblies having fixed frames and movable seat cushions and movable seat backs with upper pivot mechanisms and rigid linkage assemblies

A method of reinforcing a seatback frame of a seat assembly in which the seatback frame includes a pair of first frame members. The method includes the steps of providing a reinforcement member having an insertion end and an arm at an opposite end of the reinforcement member. The arm extends generally normal to the remainder of the reinforcement member to define a generally L-shape. An aperture is formed in one of the pair of first frame members. The insertion end of the reinforcement member is inserted into the aperture. The attachment end is aligned with the other of the pair of first frame members. The reinforcement member is welded to the seatback frame to reinforce the seatback frame.

Method of reinforcing a seatback frame of a seat assembly

A seat assembly is provided having a side shield having a leading edge. The side shield adapted to cover at least a portion of the seat cushion of the seat assembly. The assembly further includes a seat cushion, the side shield positioned adjacent to the seat cushion, the seat cushion having an elongated trench adapted to receive the leading edge of the side shield so as to prevent the formation of a gap between the shield and the cushion portion thereby providing an aesthetically appealing appearance to the user. The seat cushion includes a side surface positioned adjacent to the side shield. The trench is further defined as a generally horizontal momentary discontinuous surface extending into the side surface of the seat cushion, the leading edge of the side shield resting within the trench. The side shield extends around the seat cushion to a front portion of the seat cushion and the trench adapted to accept the leading edge of the side shield at the front portion of the seat cushion. The trench further extends horizontally from the rear to the front of the seat cushion to accommodate the leading edge of the side shield.

Side shield trench on seat cushion

A seat back frame assembly and seat assembly are provided. The seat back frame assembly includes a pair of side members spaced apart from each other, a top member spaced apart from a bottom member, each of the top and bottom members interconnecting each of the pair of side members so as to define a peripheral edge, the peripheral edge enclosing a back space. An interference member is disposed within the back space and spaced apart from an inner surface of one of the pair of side members. The interference member disposed above a midpoint of the one of the pair of side members and includes a sliding surface angled obtusely with respect to the back space so as to direct an occupant forward of the back space and away from the side member when experiencing a side load.

Seat back frame assembly with interference member

A seat back cushion for a vehicle includes a back surface including a plurality of indentations, the plurality of indentations including a plurality of generally vertical indentations and a plurality of generally horizontal indentations.

Seat back cushion for a vehicle

A cover assembly covers a portion of a seat adjuster mechanism, wherein the seat adjuster mechanism includes a lower member configured to be coupled to a vehicle floor and an upper member operative for substantially vertical adjustment relative to the lower member. The cover assembly includes a lower cover and an upper cover. The lower cover is coupled to the lower member for concealing at least part of the lower member. The upper cover covers at least part of the upper member. The upper cover is pivotally coupled to the upper member of the adjuster mechanism and pivotally coupled to the lower cover so as to conceal the at least part of the upper member of the adjuster mechanism during the vertical adjustment of the upper member relative to the lower member.

Growing community of inventors

Commerce Township, MI, United States of America

Leon Toma