Lightweight suspension panel for vehicle seats and door panels

Claim 2

A seat comprising: frame; and a resilient, contoured suspension member attached to the frame and configured to support a person sitting in the seat, the resilient, contoured suspension member comprising: first and second fabric panels; wherein the first and second fabric panels are double woven along respective perimeters thereof; wherein the first and second fabric panels are joined together along spaced-apart intermediate portions thereof to form a first set of internal passageways that extend in a first direction; and wherein each of the internal passageways in the first set is filled with a resilient material.

Claim 3

A seat according to claim 1 wherein the first fabric panel is formed from a first set of flat-woven fibers.

Claim 4

A seat according to claim 2 wherein the first set of flat-woven fibers comprises mono-filament and conventional fibers.

Claim 5

A seat according to claim 1 wherein the second fabric panel is formed from a second set of flat-woven fibers different from the first set of flat-woven fibers.

Claim 6

A seat according to claim 1 wherein the second set of flat-woven fibers comprises mono-filament and conventional fibers.

Claim 7

A seat according to claim 1 wherein the first and second fabric panels are double woven along the spaced-apart intermediate portions thereof to form the first set of internal passageways.

Claim 8

A seat according to claim 1 wherein the resilient material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester, polyester-urethane, polyetherurethane, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers, polyvinylchloride, polychroloprene, styrene/butadiene copolymer, or combinations thereof.

Claim 9

A seat according to claim 1 wherein the first and second fabric panels are joined together along spaced-apart intermediate portions thereof to form a second set of internal passageways that extend in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and wherein each of the internal passageways in the second set is filled with a resilient material.

Claim 10

A seat according to claim 8 wherein the resilient material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester, polyester-urethane, polyetherurethane, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers, polyvinylchloride, polychroloprene, styrene/butadiene copolymer, or combinations thereof.

Claim 11

A seat comprising: a frame; and a resilient, contoured suspension member attached to the frame and configured to support a person sitting in the seat, the resilient, contoured suspension member comprising: first and second fabric panels; wherein the first and second fabric panels are double woven together along respective perimeters thereof; wherein the first and second fabric panels are double woven together along spaced-apart intermediate portions thereof to form a first set of internal passageways that extend in a first direction and a second set of internal passageways that extend in a second direction; and wherein each of the internal passageways in the first and second sets is filled with a resilient material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester, polyester-urethane, polyetherurethane, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers, polyvinylchloride, polychroloprene, styrene/butadiene copolymer, or combinations thereof.

Claim 12

A seat comprising: a frame; and a resilient, contoured suspension member attached to the frame and configured to support a person sitting in the seat, the resilient, contoured suspension member comprising: first and second fabric panels; wherein the first and second fabric panels are double woven together along respective perimeters thereof; wherein the first and second fabric panels are double woven together along spaced-apart intermediate portions thereof to form a first set of internal passageways that extend in a first direction and a second set of internal passageways that extend in a second direction; and wherein each of the internal passageways in the first and second sets is filled with a resilient material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester, polyester-urethane, polyetherurethane, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers, polyvinylchloride, polychroloprene, styrene/butadiene copolymer, or combinations thereof.

Claim 13

A seat according to claim 10 wherein the first fabric panel is formed from a first set of flat-woven fibers.

Claim 14

A seat according to claim 11 wherein the first set of flat-woven fibers are comprises mono-filament and conventional fibers.

Claim 15

A seat according to claim 10 wherein the second fabric panel is formed from a second set of flat-woven fibers.

Claim 16

A seat according to claim 13 wherein the second set of flat-woven fibers comprises mono-filament and conventional fibers.

Claim 17

A passenger seat for a vehicle comprising: a frame adapted to be secured within a passenger compartment of a vehicle; and a resilient, contoured suspension member attached to the frame and configured to support a person sitting in the seat, the resilient, contoured suspension member comprising: first and second fabric panels; wherein the first and second fabric panels are double woven along respective perimeters thereof; wherein the first and second fabric panels are joined together along spaced-apart intermediate portions thereof to form a first set of internal passageways that extend in a first direction; and wherein each of the internal passageways in the first set is filled with a resilient material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester, polyester-urethane, polyetherurethane polybutadiene, polyisoprene, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers, polyvinylchloride, polychroloprene, styrene/butadiene copolymer, or combinations thereof.

Claim 18

A passenger seat for a vehicle comprising: a frame adapted to be secured within a passenger compartment of a vehicle; and a resilient, contoured suspension member attached to the frame and configured to support a person sitting in the seat, the resilient, contoured suspension member comprising: first and second fabric panels; wherein the first and second fabric panels are double woven along respective perimeters thereof; wherein the first and second fabric panels are joined together along spaced-apart intermediate portions thereof to form a first set of internal passageways that extend in a first direction; and wherein each of the internal passageways in the first set is filled with a resilient material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester, polyester-urethane, polyetherurethane polybutadiene, polyisoprene, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers, polyvinylchloride, polychroloprene, styrene/butadiene copolymer, or combinations thereof.

Claim 19

A seat according to claim 15 wherein the first fabric panel is formed from a first set of flat-woven fibers.

Claim 20

A seat according to claim 16 wherein the first set of flat-woven fibers comprises mono-filament and conventional fibers.

Claim 21

A seat according to claim 15 wherein the second fabric panel is formed from a second set of flat-woven fibers.

Claim 22

A seat according to claim 18 wherein the second set of flat-woven fibers comprises mono-filament and conventional fibers.

Claim 23

A seat according to claim 15 wherein the first and second fabric panels are double woven along the spaced-apart intermediate portions thereof to form the first set of internal passageways.