# US 10,479,246 B2 · Lattice based seat cushion to improve comfort and vibration isolation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,246 B2 - Document ID: US10479246B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/581,701 - Filed: 2017-04-28 - Published: 2018-11-01 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-28 - Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Inventors: Herbert Meingast; Recep M. Gorguluarslan; Umesh Gandhi; Brian J. Pinkelman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479246B2 ## CPC - B60N 2/7094: {Upholstery springs} - B60N 2/7017: {characterised by the manufacturing process; manufacturing upholstery or upholstery springs not otherwise provided for} - F16F 2224/0225: Cellular, e.g. microcellular foam - F16F 2228/063: Negative stiffness - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract Seats in vehicles may include a seat cushion having a seating surface, a vibration isolation structure and a foam structure, with the seating surface configured to support an occupant. The seat cushion may include either a seat bottom or a seat back, with the vibration isolation structure configured to evenly distribute forces exerted by the occupant. The vibration isolation structure may include a plurality of individual lattice blocks. The plurality of individual lattice blocks may occupy a pattern based on a spatial weight distribution of an average-sized occupant or a pattern based on a spatial weight distribution tailored for a specific occupant. The plurality of individual lattice blocks may cooperate to provide the even pressure distribution against forces exerted by the occupant. The vibration isolation structure may isolate vibration in a range from about 0.5 Hz to about 5.0 Hz. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A seat for a vehicle, the seat comprising a seat cushion having: a seating surface configured to support an occupant; a vibration isolation structure comprising a plurality of individual lattice blocks, the plurality of individual lattice blocks comprising a bi-stable lattice and forming a two-dimensional lamina, the vibration isolation structure defining a first surface and opposite second surface, wherein the plurality of individual lattice blocks occupy a pattern that is based on a spatial weight distribution of an average-sized occupant, and each of the plurality of individual lattice blocks has a stiffness value based upon a location in the pattern such that the plurality of individual lattice blocks cooperate to provide an even pressure distribution against forces exerted by the occupant; and a foam structure placed adjacent the first surface of the vibration isolation structure, wherein the vibration isolation structure exhibits an overall negative stiffness value configured to enhance a vibrational energy absorbance of the seat cushion in a range from about 0.5 Hz to about 5.0 Hz. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The seat of claim 1, wherein the seat cushion is a seat bottom and the vibration isolation structure is configured to evenly distribute forces exerted by the occupant in a generally vertical direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The seat of claim 1, wherein the seat cushion is a seat back and the vibration isolation structure is configured to evenly distribute forces exerted by the occupant in a generally horizontal direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The seat of claim 1, wherein the bi-stable lattice comprises a double concentric beam structure moveable between two stable configurations, each configuration defining a different shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The seat of claim 1, wherein the plurality of individual lattice blocks occupy a pattern that is based on a spatial weight distribution tailored for a specific occupant. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The seat of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the individual lattice blocks have a negative stiffness value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The seat of claim 1, wherein the vibration isolation structure exhibits an overall negative stiffness value configured to enhance a vibrational energy absorbance of the seat cushion of about 2.5 Hz. ### Claim 8 A seat assembly for a vehicle, the seat assembly comprising: a seat frame; a seat cushion comprising a seat bottom coupled to the seat frame, the seat cushion having: a seating surface configured to support an occupant; a vibration isolation structure comprising a plurality of individual lattice blocks, the plurality of individual lattice blocks forming a two-dimensional lamina, the plurality of individual lattice blocks occupying a pattern based on a spatial weight distribution of an average occupant such that each of the plurality of individual lattice blocks has a stiffness value based upon a location in the pattern such that the plurality of individual lattice blocks cooperate to provide a negative stiffness against forces exerted by the occupant, wherein the vibration isolation structure exhibits an overall negative stiffness value configured to enhance a vibrational energy absorbance of the seat cushion in a range from about 0.5 Hz to about 5.0 Hz. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The seat assembly of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of individual lattice blocks comprises a double concentric beam structure moveable between two stable configurations, each configuration defining a different shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The seat assembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of individual lattice blocks cooperate to isolate a predetermined vibration of the seat cushion. ### Claim 11 A method of isolating a predetermined vibration of a custom seat cushion of a vehicle, the method comprising: obtaining a spatial weight distribution for a specific occupant on a seating surface; creating a pattern correlating the spatial weight distribution for the specific occupant with individual lattice blocks having a bi-stable lattice and having different stiffness values based upon a location in the pattern, such that forces exerted by the specific occupant are evenly distributed across the custom seat cushion; forming a vibration isolation structure comprising a plurality of individual lattice blocks arranged according to the pattern; and incorporating the vibration isolation structure in a custom seat cushion such that the custom seat cushion exhibits a negative stiffness to isolate the predetermined vibration, wherein the vibration isolation structure exhibits an overall negative stiffness value configured to enhance a vibrational energy absorbance of the seat cushion in a range from about 0.5 Hz to about 5.0 Hz. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising aligning at least one foam support structure adjacent the vibration isolation structure.