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US 12,594,866 B2Granted
Vehicle user support including upper hood module
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMarc Silva Kondrad, David D. Friske, Michael Joseph Niksa, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Sangram Laxman Tamhankar, Keith Weston
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Abstract
A user support includes a hood structure that is supported by a back frame structure of the user support. The hood structure may comprise a one-piece homogeneous polymer structure that is formed by an additive process. The hood structure may include solid structures and at least one porous lattice matrix that is integrally formed with the solid structures.
Claims20
A user support for vehicles, the user support comprising:
- a frame having a lower portion and a back portion that extends upwardly from the lower portion, wherein the back portion of the frame includes an upper back frame structure having an upper edge;
- a lower cushion secured to the lower portion of the frame, the lower cushion having an upwardly facing surface;
- a back cushion secured to the back portion of the frame, the back cushion having a forwardly facing surface and an upper edge;
- a one piece polymer hood structure having a base secured to the upper back frame structure, and an upper hood structure extending upwardly above the upper edge of the upper back frame structure;
- and
- an upper pad assembly secured to the one piece polymer hood structure whereby the upper pad assembly is positioned above the upper edge of the back cushion, the upper pad assembly including at least one pad having a forwardly-facing resilient layer of material, a rear layer of material, and a resilient porous lattice matrix that is integrally formed with the forwardly-facing resilient layer of material and with the rear layer of material to form a one-piece homogeneous polymer structure, wherein the porous lattice matrix is disposed between the forwardly-facing resilient layer of material and the rear layer of material, the resilient porous lattice matrix having an integral porous outer shell extending between the forwardly-facing resilient layer of material and the rear layer of material whereby the porous outer shell is exposed and visible.
3 more elements
An upper hood module for user supports for vehicles, the upper hood module comprising:
- a one-piece polymer hood structure having a base that is configured to be secured to a back frame structure of a user support, and an upper hood structure above the base, the one-piece polymer hood structure including an outer layer and a porous lattice matrix that is integrally formed with the outer layer, and wherein the one-piece polymer hood structure comprises a homogeneous polymer structure formed by an additive process from a first polymer having a first resilience;
- and
- at least one pad secured to the one-piece polymer hood structure, the at least one pad having a forwardly-facing resilient layer of material, a rear layer of material, and a resilient porous lattice matrix that is integrally formed with the forwardly-facing resilient layer of material and with the rear layer of material, whereby the at least one pad comprises a one-piece homogeneous structure, and wherein the porous lattice matrix is disposed between the forwardly-facing resilient layer of material and the rear layer of material, wherein the at least one pad comprises a homogeneous polymer structure formed by an additive process from a second polymer having a second resilience, wherein the second resilience is less than the first resilience.
A method of making a user support for vehicles, the method comprising:
- providing a frame having a lower portion and an upright back portion;
- forming a homogenous one-piece polymer hood structure utilizing an additive process, including forming an outer layer of polymer material extending around at least a portion of a porous lattice matrix such that the outer layer of polymer material is integrally formed with the porous lattice matrix;
- and
- securing a resilient pad to a front side of the one-piece polymer hood structure.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.