Lear Corporation

Stephen Lambrecht

John P Slaven

John R Sims

Daniel J Bateson

Mladen Humer

Philip W Leistra, Iii

Todd A Mysliwiec

Eric A Partington

Gregory S Fraley

Greg Fraley

Rich Sanders

Steve Schulte

Joel P Mendel

Dianna Sabo

Ashford A Galbreath, Jr

A pneumatic seat adjuster for moving a vehicle seat relative to a floor of the vehicle includes a body having a bore formed therein. The body is adapted to be connected to one of a floor and a vehicle seat. A piston is slidably disposed in the bore of the body. The piston and the body define first and second chambers. The piston is adapted to be connected to the other one of the floor and the vehicle seat. The seat adjuster further includes a source of pressurized gas and a valve for selectively supplying pressurized gas from the source into the first and second chambers for altering the pressure differential between the first and second chambers, thereby moving the piston relative to the body.

Vehicle seat adjuster

A vehicle seat assembly for use with a vehicle includes a seat cushion frame adapted to be installed in the vehicle. An energy managing support bracket is attached to the seat cushion frame, and a recliner mechanism is attached to the support bracket. The assembly also includes a seat back frame connected to the recliner mechanism such that the seat back frame is pivotable with respect to the seat cushion frame. Furthermore, the support bracket is configured to attenuate energy associated with a rear impact to the vehicle when the assembly is installed in the vehicle, so as to inhibit rebound of the seat back frame.

Vehicle seat assembly with energy managing member

Lightweight, cost-effective composite seat back frames comprise braided carbon fiber reinforced attachment portions connected by braided, glass fiber-reinforced, generally U-shaped back portions, all these portions impregnated with a polymeric matrix resin. One or more of the braided glass or carbon fiber portions are preferably woven by a multiaxial weaving machine to maximize composite properties. The braids may be woven around a permanent or removable mandrel, and may contain pivot bushings or seat articulation hardware. The seat back frames thus produced are lighter than their aluminum counterparts.

Composite vehicle seat back frame and method of manufacturing same

A vehicle seat includes a seat bottom, a seat back pivotally connected with respect to the seat bottom, a seat track and an oscillating damped energy management device secured between the seat back and the seat bottom. The device includes a damper mechanism having a gear assembly coupled to a damper crank on a secondary gear shaft. Rotation of the damper crank causes an oscillating movement of a damper rod coupled to a damper cylinder. The viscosity of the fluid within the damper cylinder can be selected to vary the energy dampening characteristics of the damper mechanism. The damper mechanism may also include a pair of damper cylinders that can oscillate approximately ninety degrees out of phase with respect to each other to more smoothly control the damped energy during low and high impacts.

Oscillating damped energy management device

Composite vehicle seat back frame and method of manufacturing thereof

An automotive seat back having a pair of spaced upright members with lower ends and upper ends interconnected by a cross member to define a substantially rectangular back frame. The upright members and the cross member also have a front surface and a rear surface. A shoulder belt housing extends upwardly between the upright members from below the cross member to an upper distal end disposed above the cross member. The shoulder belt housing also extends forward of the front surfaces of the upright members and the cross member. Specifically, the front surfaces define a frontal plane of the back frame and the distal end of the shoulder belt housing extends forwardly beyond the frontal plane of the back frame. The housing includes a coffin portion, defined by side walls and a bottom, and a cover disposed over and in sealing engagement with the side walls. A seat belt passes within the coffin portion and out through an opening in the cover to overlay a front surface of the seat back.

Automotive seat back

Growing community of inventors

New Hudson, MI, United States of America

Stephen Lambrecht