US 2014/0152071 A1 · Bent Tube With Foam Reinforcement And Method

Abstract

A foam reinforced and bent tube for use in a vehicle seat frame and a method of forming such a tube are provided. The tube has a cavity which extends along its length and at least one open end. The foam may be inserted into the cavity through any desirable process including, for example, injection. The bend is formed by heating a portion of the tubular element and bending it at the heated region. The insertion of the foam material into the cavity of the tubular element may precede, follow or be simultaneous with the heating and bending processes. The foam material may have a variable type and/or a variable density through the length of the cavity.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A vehicle seat frame assembly, comprising:

at least one elongated tubular element having a cavity, and wherein said at least one elongated tubular element extends between distal ends and has at least one bend between said distal ends;
and
a foam material disposed in said cavity of said elongated tubular element and completely filling the cross-sectional area of said cavity through at least a portion of the length of said elongated tubular element and wherein said foam material has at least one of a varying type and a varying density along said portion of the length of said cavity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/233,526Filed 19 Jul 2012

Priority

19 Jul 2011

Published

5 Jun 2014

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B60N 2/68
Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles: seat frames
B21D 7/16
Bending rods, profiles, or tubes: auxiliary equipment, e.g. for heating or cooling of bends
B21D 9/15
Bending tubes using mandrels or the like: using filling material of indefinite shape, e.g. sand, plastic material
B21D 53/88
Making other particular articles: other parts for vehicles, e.g. cowlings, mudguards

Bent Tube With Foam Reinforcement And Method

Life of this patent

Bent Tube With Foam Reinforcement And Method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19