Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Marc Silva Kondrad

Johnathan Andrew Line

John Wayne Jaranson

Daniel Ferretti

Kevin Wayne Preuss

Christian J Hosbach

Kevin VanNieulande

Grant A Compton

Kendrick Alden Harper

Brett E Ronzi

Michael Kolich

Mandeep Singh Sidhu

David Frederick Lyons

Keith Allen Godin

Adam Michael Sachs

Lorne Joseph Lovelace

Jason William Nisbett

Paul Bryan Hoke

Rodney Charles Brinker

Gunnar Groesbeck

Yalie Yan-rush

Joe S Talamonti

A pump assembly for a vehicle seatback includes a plurality of air bladders defining a lumbar support and a pneumatic cylinder that has a sealed head slidably disposed within a cylindrical cavity coupled defining an outlet. A selection device operably engages the outlet with a select one of the plurality of air bladders for inflating the select one of the plurality of air bladders.

Manual lumbar pump assembly

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seating frame defined by a seatback frame and a seat frame. A plurality of distinct assembly modules are configured for attachment with the seating frame. The plurality of distinct assembly modules include a back cushion module, a hard back module, a seat cushion module, and a headrest module. The back cushion module and hard back module are operably coupled together. The headrest module extends over and operably couples the back cushion module with the seat cushion module to substantially encompass the seating frame. The seat cushion module is positioned on the seat frame in front of the seatback frame. First and second side trim pieces are configured to extend over the seat frame concealing side portions of the seat cushion module.

Back cushion module for a vehicle seating assembly

A vehicle seatback assembly includes an outer shell coupled to a seatback carrier via a releasable coupling arrangement. The releasable coupling arrangement can take various forms in order to securely couple the outer shell to the seatback carrier. A seatback frame is disposed between the seatback carrier and the outer shell in assembly. An airbag module is coupled to the seatback frame, and the releasable coupling arrangement is configured to release upon deployment of an airbag from the airbag module to define a peripheral gap between the outer shell and seatback carrier through which the airbag can be deployed.

Vehicle seat assembly with side-impact airbag deployment mechanism

A method of assembling a vehicle seat assembly is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing a preassembled front seatback module and a seatback frame. The method further includes assembling a seatback assembly by coupling the front seatback module to a preassembled rear seatback module around and interconnected to the seatback frame. The method further includes providing a preassembled seat module and pivotally coupling the seat module to the seatback assembly. The assembly method further includes coupling the seat module to a seat frame, and further coupling a preassembled headrest module to an upper portion of the seatback assembly.

Value assembly for seatbacks and cushions

A vehicle seat suspension system includes first and second side supports that define a seatback frame. A front trim piece is coupled between the first and second side supports. A suspension component is coupled with a central area of the front trim piece and has flexible members protruding forward and outward therefrom. A passenger support panel has a periphery coupled to distal ends of the flexible members and suspended away from the seatback frame.

Flexible seatback system

A pump assembly for a vehicle seatback includes a plurality of air bladders defining a lumbar support. A valve body has an inlet and a plurality of outlets that are coupled with the associated plurality of air bladders. A selection device is operably coupled with the valve body for engaging a select one of the plurality of air bladders with the inlet. A manually compressible air chamber is coupled with the inlet for inflating the select one.

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback frame and a seat frame defining a seating frame. A plurality of distinct assembly modules are configured for attachment with the seating frame. The plurality of distinct assembly modules include a back cushion module, a hard back module, a headrest module, and a seat cushion module. The seat cushion module includes a composite cushion pan having a rearward support defining an intermediate open area. A forward support is pivotally coupled to the rearward support. A suspension assembly is disposed in the intermediate open area. A cushion extends over the composite cushion pan. A coverstock covers the cushion.

Seat cushion module for a vehicle seating assembly

A seating assembly includes a seat frame. A first leg support is pivotally coupled with a forward portion of the seat frame. The first leg support is operable between raised and lowered positions. A first extendable member is disposed on a top portion of the first leg support and is operable between extended and retracted positions. A second leg support is adjacent to and independent of the first leg support and is pivotally coupled with the forward portion of the seat frame. The second leg support is operable between raised and lowered positions. A second extendable member is disposed on a top portion of the second leg support and is operable between extended and retracted positions.

Independent cushion extension and thigh support

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat frame. A first leg support is pivotally coupled with a forward portion of the seat frame. The first leg support is operable between raised and lowered positions. A first extendable member is disposed on a top portion of the first leg support and is operable between extended and retracted positions. A second leg support is adjacent to and independent of the first leg support and is pivotally coupled with the forward portion of the seat frame. The second leg support is operable between raised and lowered positions. A second extendable member is disposed on a top portion of the second leg support and is operable between extended and refracted positions.

A head restraint includes a base bracket with support posts that are configured to easily engage a seatback during vehicle assembly and to provide an electrical connection for adjustment actuation of the head restraint. A front link and a rear link pivotally couple with an upper portion of the seatback. A head support member is pivotally coupled with the front and rear links to define a four-bar linkage. The head support member is moveable between fore and aft positions via the front and rear links. A cushion is slidably coupled with a base portion of the head support member and is thereby moveable between upper and lower positions. Separate actuators are contained within a trim enclosure of the head restraint to effectuate adjustments of the cushion between fore and aft positions and upper and lower positions.

Articulating head restraint

A quick-connect assembly for a vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback structure. A suspension assembly includes a plurality of outwardly extending flex members. A removable trim carrier is disposed over upper and lower components and is removably coupled to distal ends of the plurality of outwardly extending flex members by a friction-fit connection. A cushion is operably coupled with the trim carrier. An external peripheral gap is defined between the passenger support and the seatback structure.

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Macomb, MI, United States of America

Marc Silva Kondrad