US4544205A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Seat and self-locking cushion assembly therefor
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
•
Filing: 1983-06-16
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Granted: 1985-10-01
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Expires: 2003-06-16
Abstract
Abstract A self-locking cushion assembly (14) is connectable to and releasable from a seat shell (12) having a plurality of fingers (52,54) and a plurality of openings (56) without the use of tools or loose parts. The cushion assembly (14) includes a cushion (60) defining a plurality of recesses (62) and a peripheral frame (64) connected to the cushion (60) and having a plurality of projections (68), so that in use the fingers (52,54) extend upwardly within the recesses (62) and overlap the frame (64) and the projections (68) depend within the openings (56) in order to lockingly secure the cushion assembly (14) to the seat shell (12).
Inventors
- 👤 John Molnar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:12
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C31/00; A47C31/02; A47C7/00; A47C7/02; A47C7/24; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S297/00; Y10S297/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A self-locking cushion assembly for connection to a seat shell having a plurality of upwardly inclined fingers and a plurality of openings, comprising: a cushion defining a plurality of inner face recesses; and a supporting frame connected to the cushion and having a plurality of locking projections depending at a right angle therefrom each of the recesses being adapted in use to individually receive one of the inclined fingers with the frame being overlappingly retained by the inclined fingers, and each of the locking projections being adapted in use to individually extend downwardly within one of the openings for releasably securing the cushion assembly to the seat shell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A self-locking cushion assembly for connection to a seat shell having a plurality of upwardly inclined fingers and a plurality of openings, comprising: a cushion defining a plurality of inner face recesses; and a supporting frame connected to the cushion and having a plurality of locking projections depending at a right angle therefrom each of the recesses being adapted in use to individually receive one of the inclined fingers with the frame being overlappingly retained by the inclined fingers, and each of the locking projections being adapted in use to individually extend downwardly within one of the openings for releasably securing the cushion assembly to the seat shell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the fingers project in use into the cushion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cushion assembly of claim 1 wherein the supporting frame includes a plate-like polygonal ring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cushion assembly of claim 3 wherein the projections are right circular cylinders connected to the polygonal ring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cushion assembly of claim 4 wherein the fingers project in use into the cushion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cushion assembly of claim 4 including a cover extending over the cushion and being connected overlappingly to the polygonal ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cushion assembly of claim 3 wherein the polygonal ring has a pair of apertures (78), two of the fingers extending in use through the apertures and overlapping the polygonal ring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a vehicle seat, the combination comprising: a seat shell having a plurality of upwardly inclined fingers and a plurality of openings; and a cushion assembly including a foam cushion defining a plurality of recesses and a supporting frame peripherally connected to the cushion and having a plate-like member and a plurality of locking projections extending at a right angle therefrom, each of the fingers extending within one of the recesses and into overlapping engagement with the plate-like member and each of the projections being lockingly received within one of the openings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a vehicle seat, the combination comprising: a seat shell having a plurality of upwardly inclined fingers and a plurality of openings; and a cushion assembly including a foam cushion defining a plurality of recesses and a supporting frame peripherally connected to the cushion and having a plate-like member and a plurality of locking projections extending at a right angle therefrom, each of the fingers extending within one of the recesses and into overlapping engagement with the plate-like member and each of the projections being lockingly received within one of the openings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The seat of claim 8 wherein the plate-like member has a pair of apertures, two of the fingers extending through the apertures and overlapping the plate-like member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The seat of claim 8 wherein two of the fingers project longitudinally into the foam cushion sufficient to create a resilient loading causing frictional loading between the locking projections and set shell openings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The seat of claim 8 wherein the locking projections are right circular cylinders.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The seat of claim 8 including a cover extending over the foam cushion and being overlappingly connected to the plate-like member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The seat of claim 8 wherein the plate-like member is generally a relatively flat polygonal ring of a construction sufficient for manually induced arcuate deflection enabling the convenient release of the locking projections from the openings of the seat shell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
84 words
A seat comprising: a seat shell having a plurality of upwardly inclined fingers and a plurality of openings; and a cushion assembly including a foam cushion and a plate-like supporting frame peripherally connected to the cushion, the cushion having a plurality of inner face recesses, the supporting frame having a pair of depending right circular locking pins, the fingers individually extending within one of the recesses and overlappingly engaging the supporting frame with the locking pins being individually received in one of the openings.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
84 words
A seat comprising: a seat shell having a plurality of upwardly inclined fingers and a plurality of openings; and a cushion assembly including a foam cushion and a plate-like supporting frame peripherally connected to the cushion, the cushion having a plurality of inner face recesses, the supporting frame having a pair of depending right circular locking pins, the fingers individually extending within one of the recesses and overlappingly engaging the supporting frame with the locking pins being individually received in one of the openings.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The seat of claim 14 wherein the supporting frame includes a relatively flat polygonal ring defining a pair of apertures therein, two of the fingers extending through the pair of apertures and overalpping the ring.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-09-30 | 1989-04-01 | 1989-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-30 | 1993-04-01 | 1993-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-30 | 1997-04-01 | 1997-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |