Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Richard Joseph Soyka, Jr

Johnathan Andrew Line

Marcos Silva Kondrad

S M Akbar Berry

Nicholas Alphonse Billardello

Christian J Hosbach

Todd Gagnier

Manoj Desai

Martin Voelker

Daniel Ferretti

Carol Diane Casey

Rodney Charles Brinker

David Andree

Peter T Mueller

Lisa Marie Carr

A seating assembly includes a seatback having a frame and a cushion assembly. A cushion carrier includes a lower member defining a frame receiving cavity. A first set of ribs extend across the frame receiving cavity in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal extent of the lower member. The first set of ribs extend between the lower member and a lower brace of the frame. A second set of ribs are parallel with the first set of ribs. The second set of ribs are longer than the first set of ribs.

Integrated decking arm support feature

A vehicle seat support carrier includes an upper seatback panel having a flexible body portion. A first set of flexible suspension members undulate in a first direction. A second set of flexible suspension members undulate in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction. A lower seatback panel is operably coupled to the upper seatback panel. The lower seatback panel includes a border member defining a central aperture and first and second bolster supports. A central portion of each of the first and second bolster supports includes a plurality of flexible suspension members.

Tuned flexible support member and flexible suspension features for comfort carriers

A vehicle seat includes a seatback with a back panel having a plurality of score lines defining a deflectable upper portion of the back panel. A headrest includes a housing with front and rear covers. The rear cover includes a plurality of score lines defining a deflectable lower portion of the rear cover. A trim ring is coupled between the deflectable upper portion of the seatback and the deflectable lower portion of the rear cover by one or more reinforcement brackets in assembly. The trim ring includes a plurality of notches disposed along a perimeter portion thereof. The notches of the trim ring cooperate to define deflection points of the trim ring along the perimeter thereof. The score lines and the notches of the vehicle seat provide for a dynamic impact energy management system for the seat at a head restraint thereof.

Vehicle seat and headrest with dynamic impact energy management system

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback. A back panel includes a front closeout panel. A carrier supports the seatback and includes an upper thoracic region having a peripheral support. A peripheral gap is defined between the front closeout panel and the upper thoracic region. A bottom portion of the upper thoracic region includes a lower wall having a sinusoidal configuration. A lower lumbar region includes a peripheral support. A peripheral gap is defined between the front closeout panel and the lower lumbar region. An upper portion of the lower lumbar region includes an upper wall having a sinusoidal configuration. A plurality of concave connectors couple the lower wall of the upper thoracic region with the upper wall of the lower lumbar region.

Seatback comfort carrier

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback. A back panel includes a front closeout panel. A carrier supports the seatback and includes an upper thoracic region having a peripheral support. A peripheral gap is defined between the front closeout panel and the upper thoracic region. A bottom portion of the upper thoracic region includes a lower wall having a sinusoidal configuration. A lower lumber region includes a peripheral support. A peripheral gap is defined between the front closeout panel and the lower lumber region. An upper portion of the lower lumbar region includes an upper wall having a sinusoidal configuration. A plurality of concave connectors couple the lower wall of the upper thoracic region with the upper wall of the lower lumber region.

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback frame having a lower cross member. A back panel is operably coupled to the seatback frame and includes internal posts configured to receive a retention clip. The retention clip includes first and second catches that engage notches on the internal posts of the back panel. The retention clips further include retention hooks. An anchorage bracket is operably coupled to the lower cross member and includes fastener slots configured to receive the retention hooks to secure the back panel with the anchorage bracket. Wire harness features are disposed on distal ends of the anchorage bracket. Wiring is routed between the lower cross member and the anchorage bracket.

Back panel lower clip anchorage features for dynamic events

A decorative closeout assembly includes a gap hider. A U-shaped body portion is constructed from a fabric and includes a plurality of peripheral tabs. First and second inwardly-extending flaps extend inwardly and are operably coupled with a laterally-extending flexible tensioner extending between the first and second inwardly-extending flaps and configured to maintain the body portion taut. A plurality of hooked barbs extend from a bottom side of the U-shaped body portion. An upper back support includes a U-shaped peripheral channel for receiving the plurality of hooked barbs.

Decorative and functional upper seatback closeout assembly

A vehicle seatback assembly includes a cushion assembly having a seating surface. A back panel includes a first side portion, a second side portion, and a back portion. A first living hinge is disposed between the first side portion and back portion. A second living hinge is disposed between the second side portion and back portion. A frame is disposed between the back panel and the cushion assembly. A peripheral cushion structure supports a periphery of the cushion assembly. A closeout panel is coupled with the back panel and is disposed behind the cushion structure to define a peripheral gap between the closeout panel and the cushion structure that extends around the sides of said seatback assembly. A shingled portion of the closeout panel extends behind and couples with the back panel. An airbag is coupled with the frame and is configured to deploy between the closeout and back panels.

Seatback flexible slip plane joint for side air bag deployment

A vehicle seating assembly that includes a seat back having a passenger support attached to a trim carrier with a suspension assembly connecting a support structure. The support structure includes a first trim piece, a seat frame, and a rear panel portion. The rear panel portion includes one or more upper inverted hooks, an energy transfer bracket, one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips, one or more outer wall detents, and one or more breaking members. An airbag deployment system is positioned proximate the first trim piece and a second trim piece and configured to deploy an airbag between the first and second trim pieces. The deployment energy is dissipated through the rear panel portion's one or more upper inverted hooks, the energy transfer bracket, the one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips, the one or more outer wall detents, and the one or more breaking members of the rear panel portion.

Side airbag energy management system

A vehicle seating assembly that includes a vehicle seating assembly that includes a seatback having a passenger support attached to a trim carrier with a suspension assembly connecting a support structure. The support structure includes a first trim piece, a seat frame, and a rear panel portion. The rear panel portion includes one or more upper inverted hooks, an energy transfer bracket, and one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips. An airbag deployment system is positioned proximate the first trim piece and a second trim piece and configured to deploy an airbag between the first and second trim pieces. The deployment energy is dissipated through the one or more upper inverted hooks, the energy transfer bracket, and the one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips of the rear panel portion.

A vehicle seating assembly for a motor vehicle has raised seatback that includes a permeable foam layer having a plurality of spaced apertures. A distribution system having airflow passages is juxtaposed against the permeable foam layer, such that the airflow passages of the distribution system are in fluid communication with the apertures in the permeable foam layer. A carrier assembly is juxtaposed against the distribution system and has an upper portion having a central annual member supported by a plurality of flexible radial arms, to which is attached a blower in fluid communication with the airflow passages of the distribution system and the apertures in the permeable foam layer. Warm air from the permeable foam layer is displaced away from the permeable foam layer and is circulated through the raised seatback by operation of the blower.

Vehicle seating assembly having a blower mounted to the seatback against a plastic matrix

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base. A seatback is operably coupled to a rear of the seat base. First and second independently moveable thigh bolsters each include a top side, a forward side, a bottom side, an exterior side, and an interior side. A slide assembly is operably coupled to each of the first and second thigh bolsters. Each of the thigh bolsters are independently laterally translatable forward relative to the seat base. First and second flexible trim carriers are configured to wrap around the first and second independently moveable thigh bolsters, respectively. A spring assembly urges each thigh bolster to a fully forward lateral position. A pivot member operably couples each of the thigh bolsters to the seat base. Each of the thigh bolsters are rotatable relative to the seat base.

Independent thigh extension and support trim carrier

A seatback assembly includes a seatback frame with an airbag deployment system coupled to a side member thereof. The airbag deployment system includes an airbag configured to deploy outwardly at a deployment force. A back panel includes a side member that at least partially covers the airbag deployment system in assembly. The side member includes a notch disposed adjacent to the airbag deployment system which separates a rear portion of the back panel from an airbag door configured to outwardly flex to an open position under the deployment force of the airbag deployment system. An adhesive patch is partially disposed over the notch and includes an adhesive layer adhered to the rear portion of the back panel and the airbag door of the back panel to tether the airbag door to the back panel and control the opening of the airbag door under the deployment force of the airbag.

Seatback with side airbag energy management system

An underseat storage assembly for a vehicle seat includes a recess disposed on a floor below the vehicle seat. A front panel has an edge pivotally coupled with the floor and first and second side panels are pivotally coupled with opposing ends of the front panel. The front panel is movable between a stored position within the recess and a deployed position and has the first and second side panels vertically arranged and orthogonal to the front panel.

Growing community of inventors

Shelby Township, MI, United States of America

Richard Joseph Soyka, Jr