Abstract A vehicle seat suspension has a thin high strength elastomeric membrane. The membrane is formed from block copolymer material by a process in which a sheet is extruded and tensioned to orient molecules in a select direction with respect to the membrane; the oriented membrane is annealed to retain the orientation during cyclical deformation of the membrane. The sheet form membrane is adapted to be connected with respect to a vehicle seat assembly frame and to serve as a backing for foam seating material and wherein the oriented structure of the membrane provides a two stage modulus in the direction of the orientation for providing static and dynamic load support characteristics which impart passenger comfort without increasing the weight of a seat assembly.
Inventors
👤 Ismat A. Abu-Isa
👤 Elio Eusebi
👤 Craig B. Jaynes
👤 Susan C. Moran
👤 Michael A. Roy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-06 15:07
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/70; B60N2/7011
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
An elastomeric membrane for use in a vehicle seat assembly comprising an extruded sheet made from a block copolymer consisting of polytetramethylene terephthalate polyester and polytetramethylene ether, said extruded sheet having the molecules oriented therein and annealed to define a greater modulus in the direction in which the membrane is to be tensioned when suspended in a seat assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
An elastomeric membrane for use in a vehicle seat assembly comprising an extruded sheet made from a block copolymer consisting of polytetramethylene terephthalate polyester and polytetramethylene ether, said extruded sheet having the molecules oriented therein and annealed to define a greater modulus in the direction in which the membrane is to be tensioned when suspended in a seat assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
An elastomeric membrane for use in a vehicle seat assembly comprising an extruded sheet made from a block copolymer consisting of polytetramethylene terephthalate polyester and polytetramethylene ether, said extruded sheet having the molecules oriented therein and annealed to define a first modulus of elasticity in a first range of elongation of the copolymer material and a second modulus of elasticity greater than the first modulus in a second range of elongation which is greater than the first range of elongation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
An elastomeric membrane for use in a vehicle seat assembly comprising an extruded sheet made from a block copolymer consisting of polytetramethylene terephthalate polyester and polytetramethylene ether, said extruded sheet having the molecules oriented therein and annealed to define a first modulus of elasticity in a first range of elongation of the copolymer material and a second modulus of elasticity greater than the first modulus in a second range of elongation which is greater than the first range of elongation.