Seat mounting clip system
AssigneeIndiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsKegan Mckinney Crawford, Jonathan Austin DuBois, Robert A. Kester, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seat assembly including a frame and a seat mounted to the frame via one or more clips. In one example, the clips include a lock assembly configured to extend through an opening in a seat support. The lock assembly includes a T-lock with one or more tabs configured to lock the clip within the opening without the use of tools and/or other fasteners. In another example, the lock assembly is inserted into the opening and the clip is rotated 90 degrees from an unlocked to a locked position. In yet another example, the clip includes a retention assembly with a snap button configured to snap-fit within an aperture to prevent accidental rotation and/or removal of the clip from the opening.
Claims15
A system, comprising:
- a seat component;
- wherein the seat component includes a seat support;
- wherein the seat support defines an opening;
- a clip manually coupled to the seat component without fasteners;
- wherein the clip has a bearing with one or more lugs extending from the bearing;
- wherein the bearing extends through the opening in the seat support;
- wherein the clip is configured to rotate from an unlocked position to a locked position;
- wherein the lugs are coupled to the seat support in the locked position;
- a frame including a crossbar;
- wherein the clip has a jaw;
- wherein the jaw is hook-shaped;
- wherein the jaw defines a jaw opening;
- wherein the jaw opening opens in a transverse direction relative to the bearing;
- wherein the crossbar is inserted through the jaw opening during assembly;
- wherein the jaw is resilient to bend as the crossbar is inserted through the jaw opening of the clip;
- wherein the jaw is clipped to the crossbar;
- wherein the crossbar is disposed between the jaw and the seat support when clipped;
- and
- wherein the crossbar rests against the seat support when clipped.
A system, comprising:
- a frame;
- a seat component including a seat support, wherein the seat support defines an opening;
- and
- a clip having
- a body,
- a jaw extending from the body, wherein the jaw is hook-shaped, wherein the jaw defines a jaw opening, wherein the jaw is clipped to the frame, wherein the jaw is resilient to bend as the frame is inserted through the jaw opening of the clip,
- a grab fin extending from the jaw,
- one or more lugs extending from the body, wherein the lugs are configured to lock to the seat component,
- wherein the clip is locked in the opening of the seat support via a rotational movement,
- wherein the jaw extends in a parallel manner relative to the seat support when the clip is coupled to the seat support, and
- wherein the grab fin extends from the jaw in a direction opposite to the jaw to brace the jaw.
A method, comprising:
- inserting one or more lugs of a clip into an opening of a seat support structure, wherein the lugs extend from a bearing of the clip, wherein the bearing is positioned in the opening of the seat support structure during the inserting, wherein the clip has a jaw, wherein the jaw is hook-shaped, wherein the jaw defines a jaw opening, wherein the jaw opening opens in a transverse direction relative to the bearing;
- rotating the clip to lock the lugs to the seat support structure;
- clipping the seat support structure to a crossbar of a frame by inserting the crossbar through the jaw opening of the clip, wherein the jaw is resilient to bend during the clipping wherein the crossbar is disposed between the jaw and the seat support structure as a result of the clipping;
- and
- pivoting the seat support structure via the clip to rest the seat support structure on the crossbar of the frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.