Lear Corporation

Lear Automotive Dearborn, Inc.

International Automotive Components Group North America, Inc.

Zouzal, Winsen C.

Thomas S Hicks

Ashford Allen Galbreath

Asad S Ali

Winsen C Zouzal

Gerald Steven Locke

Terry R O'Bannon

Walter T Cichocki

Jennifer Badgley

James A Mulvihill

Richard L Harbaugh

Paul S Severinski

Mark Allyn Folkert

Thomas A Welch, Sr

Ronald L Miotto

James Bradley Clauser

William Paruszkiewicz

Won-Tai Kim

David Anthony Hein

Eric C Veine

David M Emerling

Mark Weaver

Steven Martin Kowalski

Tracy Lee Simpson

James M Hutek

Gary J D'Annunzio

Jason Whitman

Douglas Kroll

Timothy Smith

Erin Daly

Joseph P Taylor

Bruce F Brewster

John Sumbera

Lori A Edwards

Jeffrey A Kempf

A vehicle seat assembly is provided with a structural member adapted to be mounted within a vehicle to provide support to an occupant. The structural member has at least one channel formed therein. A cushion member is provided adjacent to the structural layer. The cushion member has at least one channel formed therethrough. A trim member is secured over the cushion member to form a seating surface. At least one attachment member is mounted to the trim member extending through the at least one channel of the cushion member. The at least one attachment member extends into the at least one channel of the structural member such that at least one of the trim material and the cushion layer is retained on the structural member.

Layered seating system with attachments

A seatback assembly is provided having a thoracic support structure. The thoracic support structure includes a center portion extending in an upright direction and is adapted to be positioned adjacent the seatback to align adjacent a thoracic region a user's spine. The center portion is formed of a first foam material having a first hardness. A pair of side portions are disposed adjacent to and connected with the center portion. The side portions are formed of a second foam material having a second hardness. The first hardness is greater than the second hardness for providing support to the user's spine. An adjustment mechanism is connected to the thoracic support structure for positioning the support structure along the seatback so that the center portion provides support to at least a portion of the thoracic region of the user's spine.

Thoracic region comfort seating system

A thoracic support for a seat back of a seat is provided. The thoracic support structure is pivotally attached to the seat back and pivots between a first position and a second position. In the second position the support structure supports at least a portion of the thoracic region of the user's spine. An actuator disposed between a support surface and the support structure pivots the support structure from the first position to the second position upon actuation.

A vehicle seat is provided, in at least one embodiment, comprising a seatback comprising a cushion having a first hardness, and a pneumatic thoracic support structure positioned adjacent the cushion. In at least one embodiment, the pneumatic thoracic support structure comprises a first bladder selectively inflatable to provide a first area having a second hardness higher than the first hardness, with the first area being disposed along a thoracic region of a user's spine when a user is seated in the seat to provide support to at least a portion of the thoracic region of the user's spine.

Thoracic region comfort vehicle seating system with pneumatic adjustment

A vehicle seat back includes a seat back frame. An impact pad is supported on the seat back frame. The impact pad includes a pad body that is located on a rear side of the seat back frame. The impact pad includes a frame contact surface that matches a contour of the seat back frame. The vehicle seat back also includes one of more spaces located between the pad body and the seat back frame.

Vehicle seat with energy absorbing impact pad

A thoracic support for a seatback of a seat is provided. The thoracic support has a center portion extending in an upright direction and adapted to be positioned adjacent the seatback to align adjacent a thoracic region a user's spine and having a first hardness. A pair of side portions are each disposed on opposing lateral sides of the center portion. The side portions have a second hardness less than the first hardness of the center portion. The pair of side portions and the center portion to define a smooth forward support surface.

A thoracic support for a seatback of a seat is provided. The thoracic support includes a center portion extending in an upright direction and adapted to be positioned adjacent the seatback to align adjacent a thoracic region a user's spine. The center portion is formed of a first foam material having a first hardness. A pair of side portions each disposed adjacent to and are connected with the center portion. The side portions are formed of a second foam material having a second hardness. The first hardness is greater than the second hardness so that the center portion provides support to at least a portion of the thoracic region of the user's spine.

A thoracic support assembly for a seat back of a seat assembly. The thoracic support assembly may include a cover and a thoracic support pad. The thoracic support pad may be movable with respect to the cover and may be configured to support at least a portion of a thoracic region of a user's spine.

Thoracic support assembly for a seat back

A method is provided for operating a proximity sensing unit for controlling an accessory device of a vehicle. A plurality of proximity sensors is disposed in a sequential pattern within a sensing unit whereby the proximity sensors are responsive to a manual activation. At least two activation signals are received from at least two proximity sensors in response to the manual activation. An activation sequence of at least two activation signals is determined. One of a plurality of control actions associated with the activation sequence is selected. A control action is initiated for controlling an operation of the accessory device.

Vehicle accessory proximity sensor slide switch

An accessory strip for a vehicle having a bracket secured to a track at select locations. The bracket includes a cam on an inner end that is received by a cam lock bar. The cam is movable within the track to selected positions where it may be locked in place. The bracket may include a dovetail socket to which articles may be secured by means of a dovetail plug and also may include a hook on which articles may be hung by means of flexible handles, or the like. The accessory strip assembly may be attached to an interior wall or may be formed as an integral track on an interior wall or seat back of a vehicle.

Accessory strip for securing articles within a vehicle interior

An integrated storage system for vehicles includes an expandable container secured to and extendable from a vertical panel of the vehicle to at least one predetermined position to accommodate cargo. The container is collapsible so that it is substantially flush with the vertical panel when not in use and may be made of fabric or netting, for example. A semi-rigid end panel with a handle may be secured to the container to facilitate deploying and stowing the container. Depending on the application, the container may be removable from the vehicle to transport cargo. The storage system may be integrated into various locations including a cargo area, behind a seat or seats, in a truck bed, or in the trunk of a vehicle, for example.

Integrated expandable cargo system for vehicles

A vehicle storage assembly for a vehicle cargo area includes a storage panel and a flange portion extending outwardly from an end of the storage panel. The flange portion is adapted to be mounted to an interior component of a vehicle such that the storage panel is positionable to a stowed position, and a deployed position. In the deployed position, the storage panel divides at least a portion of the vehicle cargo area.

Rear vehicle storage system

A modular console system for a vehicle includes a common module which defines a module space. The common module can be attached at different points along the length of a base, which is attached to the vehicle floor. The common module is configured to receive an insert module, which has an inner portion that is specifically configured to conform to one or more accessories that can be accessed by the vehicle occupants.

Modular console system

In a vehicle having a door, the door having a closed position, a partially open position, and a fully open position, a system for proximity opening of the door includes a remote transmitter, a controller, an actuator, and a switch. The remote transmitter may be for transmitting a wireless first vehicle access signal. The controller may be for receiving the wireless first vehicle access signal and generating a control signal in response thereto. The actuator may be in communication with the controller, the actuator operative to move the door from the closed position to the partially open position in response to the control signal. The switch may be on the door, the switch exposed by movement of the door from the closed position to the partially open position and configured to present a second vehicle access signal when manually activated, the second vehicle access signal for use in moving the door from the partially open position to the fully open position.

Growing community of inventors

Livonia, MI, United States of America

Thomas S Hicks