Seat frame structure and method for forming
AssigneeTriton Tubular Components Corp.
InventorsJohn McWhinnie, Bill Frenke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method of forming a transversely extending passage through a tubular seat frame for receiving a headrest guide tube and includes the steps of: (i) forming first and second diametrically opposed axially aligned openings through the tubing; (ii) flowing metal from around the first opening through the tube and through the second opening while expanding the first opening to form at least part of an inner wall of the passage; (iii) flowing metal from around the second opening outwardly from the tube while expanding the second opening to form an outer wall of the passage extending about the inner wall.
Claims27
A method of forming a transversely extending passage through a tubular seat frame member of ductile metal tubing for receiving a headrest guide tube;
- said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) forming first and second diametrically opposed axially aligned openings through said tubing;
- (ii) flowing metal from around said first opening through said tube and through said second opening while expanding said first opening to form at least part of an inner wall of said passage;
- (iii) flowing metal from around said second opening outwardly from said tube while expanding said second opening to form an outer wall of said passage extending about said inner wall.
A method of securing a headrest guide tube to a tubular seat frame member of ductile metal tubing, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) forming first and second diametrically opposed axially aligned openings through said tubular member;
- (ii) flowing metal from around said first opening through said tubular seat frame member and through said second opening while expanding said first opening to initiate a passage extending through said tubular member;
- (iii) flowing metal from around said second opening outwardly from said tubular seat frame member while expanding said second opening to receive said metal from around said first opening and form an upstanding wall about said passage, said passage having an entrance adjacent said tubular seat frame member and an exit distal said tubular seat frame member;
- (iv) inserting said guide tube through said passage;
- (v) deforming said guide tube to form a first detent on said guide tube for limiting displacement of said guide tube in a first direction into said entrance;
- and
- (vi) forming a second detent by deforming at least one of said upstanding wall and said guide tube to, in conjunction with said first detent, fixedly secure said guide tube to said tubular seat frame member.
A method of forming a headrest guide tube mounting passage in a tubular seat frame member of ductile metal tubing, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) punching first and second axially aligned holes through diametrically opposite locations along said tubing;
- (ii) placing said tubing in an extruding die-set with a core of said die-set aligned with said first hole and a cavity of said die-set aligned with said second hole;
- (iii) urging said core toward said cavity to cause metal surrounding said first and second holes to flow into said cavity while simultaneously enlarging said first and second holes to form said guide tube passage.
A method for securing a headrest guide tube to a tubular seat frame member of ductile metal, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) punching first and second axially aligned holes through diametrically opposite locations along said tubular seat frame member;
- (ii) placing said tubular seat frame member in an extruding die-set with a core of said die-set aligned with said first hole and a cavity of said die-set aligned with said second hole;
- (iii) urging said core toward said cavity to cause metal surrounding said first and second holes to flow into said cavity while simultaneously enlarging said first and second holes to form a guide tube passage having an entrance adjacent said tubular seat frame member and an exit distal said tubular seat frame member;
- (iv) inserting said guide tube through said passage;
- (v) deforming said guide tube to form a first detent on said guide tube for limiting displacement of said guide tube in a first direction into said entrance;
- and,
- (vi) forming a second detent by deforming at least one of said upstanding wall and said guide tube to, in conjunction with said first detent, fixedly secure said guide tube to said tubular seat frame member.
A tubular seat frame member comprising:
- a run of ductile metal tubing having at least two headrest guide tube mounting passages extending transversely therethrough;
- each said mounting passage having an upstanding wall encircling said passage and extending outwardly from one side of said tubular seat frame member;
- said passage having a first end proximal said run of tubing and a second end distal said run of tubing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.