Vehicle seat assembly

#This invention relates in general to improved seat assemblies for use in a vehicle and a method of installing the seat assemblies. Typically, seats for use in automotive and truck vehicles vary in size, shape, and style for each particular vehicle platform. Also, a particular vehicle platform can have different styles of seats which can be installed in the vehicle. The front seats of a vehicle can have different seat configurations, such as for example, a “bench” seat in which the seat is a single structure which extends along the width of the front compartment of the vehicle. More common however, is a “bucket” seat arrangement in which separate driver and passenger seats are independently mounted on the floor in the front compartment of the vehicle. It is also common to include a center storage console positioned between the driver and passenger bucket seats and mounted on the floor.

#Typically, each different style of seat is manufactured with a unique internal frame structure providing strength to the seat. The size and shape of the frame structure generally conforms to the size, shape, and style of the seat as well as the mounting locations within the vehicle front compartment. Each seat is commonly manufactured with its own unique frame structure. Also, the mounting structures of the seats are generally not interchangeable between different vehicle platforms. Sometimes, customers wish to customize the appearance of the seats, for example, to appear more like a racing-type seat. In order to make such customization possible, it would be advantageous to implement methods and materials to easily replace portions of the vehicle seat without having to replace the entire seat assembly.

#This invention relates to an improved seat assembly for use in a vehicle. The vehicle seat assembly includes an elongated continuous frame member having an upper portion and a lower portion. A mounting assembly is attached to the lower portion of the frame member and is adapted to be mounted on the floor of a vehicle. A back support structure is attached to the upper portion of the frame member. A bottom support structure is attached to the lower portion of the frame member.

#FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a vehicle seat assembly in accordance with the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the vehicle seat assembly shown in FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is a side elevational view in partial cross-section of the vehicle seat assembly shown in FIG. 1.

#There is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, a vehicle seat assembly, indicated generally at 10, in accordance with the present invention. The seat assembly 10 generally includes a mounting assembly 12 and a seat defined by a frame member or spine 14, and a plurality of support structures, such as a headrest panel 16, an upper back panel 18, a lower back panel 20, and a bottom panel 22. The spine 14 is preferably a single elongated continuous member having a contoured shape which defines an upper portion 24, an intermediate portion 25, and a lower portion 26. The lower portion 26 is attached to the mounted assembly 12. Generally, the spine 14 provides the structural support for the seat assembly 10 such that forces acting on the structural supports, such as by movement and acceleration/deceleration of the occupant, are transmitted through the spine 14 to the mounted assembly 12, and then to the vehicle floor or frame upon which the seat assembly 10 is mounted. As will be discussed in detail below, the support structures 16, 18, 20, and 22 are preferably releasably attached to the spine 14 so that a different style seat assembly can be configured by alternating attachment of a plurality of differently shaped, textured or colored support structures.

#The mounting assembly 12 can be any suitable structure which secures the spine 14 relative to the floor of the vehicle. Preferably, the mounting assembly 12 provides positional adjustment of the seat assembly 10 relative to the vehicle such as by mechanically or electrically operated adjustment mechanisms for adjusting the fore and aft position of the seat assembly 10. For example, there is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 an embodiment of a mounting assembly 12 which includes a pair of track mechanisms having an upper track 30 slidably mounted relative to a lower track 32. The lower track 32 is attached to the frame or floor of the vehicle. A pair of cross bars 36 extend laterally between the upper tracks 30. A support plate 38 is mounted on top of the cross bars 36 and is supported thereby. The lower portion 26 of the spine 14 is mounted on the support plate 38, thereby attaching the seat to the mounting assembly 12. A stop or detent mechanism can be operated via a handle 34 for selectively maintaining and releasing the upper tracks 30 relative to the lower tracks 32 to permit and restrict the fore and aft movement of the seat assembly 10 relative to the floor of the vehicle.

#Preferably, the support plate 38 defines an upper surface 40 having a complimentary shape as a lower surface 42 of the lower portion 26 of the spine 14. For example, the surfaces 40 and 42 can be arcuate or semi-circular shaped defined by a common radius. The support plate 38 and the lower portion 26 of the spine 14 may include a plurality of fastener devices, such as apertures and threaded fasteners, which permit an adjustable mounting to alter the pitch of the seat relative to the mounting assembly 12. Thus, the spine 14 could be fastened to the support pate 38 at varying positions along the support plate 28. The mounting assembly 12 could also include an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the vertical position of the front and/or rear portion of the seat. Of course, any other suitable mounting arrangement may be used to mount the seat onto the mounting assembly 12.