US6663177B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Advanced elastomeric integral suspension seating system
Assignee: Lear Corp
•
Filing: 2001-12-12
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Granted: 2003-12-16
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Expires: 2021-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle seat formed by a contoured tubular frame defining the edges of a seat base and a seat back and having tensioned belts and an elastomeric mesh seat fabric. The contoured tubular frame is wrapped in foam padding for comfort and impact protection. Two belts are provided in each of the seat base and seat back. The elastomeric seat mesh fabric forms an elastomeric seating surface that wraps around the seat occupant. The elastomeric mesh seat fabric is secured to the belts that provide seating surface contour and minimize excursion of the elastomeric mesh seat fabric. A cushion is provided under the elastomeric seating surface near the front of the seat to prevent submarining in an impact. An eccentric lumbar cushion is provided on a flexible shaft to permit adjustment of the degree of lower back support.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernesto E. Blanco
- 👤 H. Winston Maue
- 👤 Sofy Tarud
- 👤 Joshua A. Goldwitz
- 👤 Josue Sznitman
- 👤 Mara B. Ignatius
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:22
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/24; B60N2/42; B60N2/4249; B60N2/4256; B60N2/4263; B60N2/4207; B60N2/4214; B60N2/4221; B60N2/64; B60N2/66; B60N2/70; B60N2/7094
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A vehicle seat for a person riding in a vehicle comprising: a contoured tubular frame defining a plurality of edges of a seat base and a seat back; at least one belt secured to the tubular frame in at least two spaced locations on the tubular frame; and an elastomeric mesh seating surface secured to the tubular frame and the belt, wherein the belt draws the mesh seating surface into a concave shape by drawing the mesh seating surface downward within the tubular frame to provide a concave seating surface, the portion of the tubular frame where the belt is secured being lower than the portion of the tubular frame running parallel to the belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A vehicle seat for a person riding in a vehicle comprising: a contoured tubular frame defining a plurality of edges of a seat base and a seat back; at least one belt secured to the tubular frame in at least two spaced locations on the tubular frame; and an elastomeric mesh seating surface secured to the tubular frame and the belt, wherein the belt draws the mesh seating surface into a concave shape by drawing the mesh seating surface downward within the tubular frame to provide a concave seating surface, the portion of the tubular frame where the belt is secured being lower than the portion of the tubular frame running parallel to the belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein a foam pad is wrapped around the frame and wherein the mesh seating surface is wrapped around the foam pad that provides comfort and impact protection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein four tensioned belts are provided, two being secured to an upper portion and a lower portion of the seat back of the tubular frame and two being secured to a front portion and a rear portion of the seat base of the tubular frame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein two belts extend in the seat base longitudinally and two belt segments extend vertically in the seat back.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein a foam block is provided between the mesh seating surface and the belt under a front portion of the seat base to provide a shock absorbing mechanism in an impact.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein the mesh seating surface is secured to the belt to minimize excursion of the mesh seating surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The vehicle seat of claim 1 wherein an adjustable eccentric lumbar cushion is provided for lower back support, the eccentric lumbar cushion being rotatable to modify the degree of seat back curvature, and the eccentric lumbar cushion being mounted on a flexible shaft that allows for some movement of the cushion to aid in absorbing vibration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
136 words
A vehicle seat for a person riding in a vehicle comprising: a tubular frame defining a seat base and a seat back; at least one belt secured to the tubular frame in at least two spaced locations on the tubular frame; an elastomeric mesh seating surface secured to the tubular frame and the belt; and a foam pad wrapped around the frame, wherein the mesh seating surface and the belt are wrapped around the foam pad that provides comfort and impact protection and the belt draws the mesh seating surface into a concave shape by drawing the mesh seating surface downward within the tubular frame to provide a concave seating surface, the portion of the tubular frame where the belt is secured being lower than the portion of the tubular frame running parallel to the belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
136 words
A vehicle seat for a person riding in a vehicle comprising: a tubular frame defining a seat base and a seat back; at least one belt secured to the tubular frame in at least two spaced locations on the tubular frame; an elastomeric mesh seating surface secured to the tubular frame and the belt; and a foam pad wrapped around the frame, wherein the mesh seating surface and the belt are wrapped around the foam pad that provides comfort and impact protection and the belt draws the mesh seating surface into a concave shape by drawing the mesh seating surface downward within the tubular frame to provide a concave seating surface, the portion of the tubular frame where the belt is secured being lower than the portion of the tubular frame running parallel to the belt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The vehicle seat of claim 8 wherein a foam block is provided between the mesh seating surface and the belt under a front portion of the seat base to provide a shock absorbing mechanism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
The vehicle seat of claim 9 wherein an anchor pin secures the belt over the foam block that is disposed radially outboard of the seat base tubular frame and the foam pad that is wrapped around the tubular frame, wherein the anchor pin extends through the belt, the foam block, the mesh seating surface, the foam pad and into the tubular frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The vehicle seat of claim 8 wherein a foam cushion is provided that extends rearwardly from a front portion of the frame that prevents the mesh seating surface from submarining below the frame in an impact.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
141 words
A vehicle seat for a person riding in a vehicle comprising: a tubular frame defining a seat base and a seat back; at least one belt secured to the tubular frame in at least two spaced locations on the tubular frame; an elastomeric mesh seating surface secured to the tubular frame and the belt; and an adjustable eccentric lumbar cushion provided adjacent a lower portion of the seat back for lower back support, the eccentric lumbar cushion being rotatable to modify the degree of seat back curvature; wherein the belt draws the mesh seating surface into a concave shape by drawing the mesh seating surface downward within the tubular frame to provide a concave seating surface, the portion of the tubular frame where the belt is secured being lower than the portion of the tubular frame running parallel to the belt.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
141 words
A vehicle seat for a person riding in a vehicle comprising: a tubular frame defining a seat base and a seat back; at least one belt secured to the tubular frame in at least two spaced locations on the tubular frame; an elastomeric mesh seating surface secured to the tubular frame and the belt; and an adjustable eccentric lumbar cushion provided adjacent a lower portion of the seat back for lower back support, the eccentric lumbar cushion being rotatable to modify the degree of seat back curvature; wherein the belt draws the mesh seating surface into a concave shape by drawing the mesh seating surface downward within the tubular frame to provide a concave seating surface, the portion of the tubular frame where the belt is secured being lower than the portion of the tubular frame running parallel to the belt.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The vehicle seat of claim 12 wherein the eccentric lumbar cushion is mounted on a flexible shaft that allows for some movement of the cushion to aid in absorbing vibration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The vehicle seat of claim 13 wherein the shaft is secured to the frame by V-shaped brackets having receptacles for assembling the V-shaped brackets to the frame.
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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) | 2006-12-15 | 2007-06-16 | 2007-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-12-15 | 2011-06-16 | 2011-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-12-15 | 2015-06-16 | 2015-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |