Devices and method to removably secure a seatback shell to a seatback frame
AssigneeLippert Components, Inc.
InventorDouglas V. STEURY
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seatback shell mounting device removably secures a seatback shell to a seatback frame. The seatback shell includes a support member with a base secured to the seatback shell and an outwardly extending arm with an elbow. The elbow is shaped to mate with an upper seatback frame element. A fastening member has a base secured to the seatback shell and an outwardly extending resilient lever arm with a cam surface and a step formed on an underside. The lever arm is shaped to define an underside cradle. The mounting device facilitates assembly and removal of a seatback shell onto a seatback frame.
Claims17
A seatback shell mounting device for removably securing a seatback shell to a seatback frame including an upper seatback frame element and a lower seatback frame element, the seatback shell mounting device comprising:
- at least one support member including a first base securable to the seatback shell and an outwardly extending arm with an elbow, wherein the elbow is shaped to engage the upper seatback frame element;
- and
- at least one fastening member including a second base securable to seatback shell and an outwardly extending resilient lever arm with a cam surface and a step formed at an end of the cam surface, wherein the lever arm defines an underside cradle engageable with the lower seatback frame element.
A seatback assembly, comprising
- a seatback shell;
- a support member secured to the seatback shell, the support member including an outwardly extending arm with an elbow;
- a fastening member secured to the seatback shell, the fastening member including an outwardly extending resilient lever arm with a cam surface and a step formed on an underside the lever arm defining an underside cradle;
- and
- a seatback frame including an upper frame element and a lower frame element, wherein when the seatback shell is secured to the seatback frame, the outwardly extending arm of the support member engages the upper frame element, and the fastening member engages the lower frame element.
A method for removably securing a seatback shell to a seatback frame with a seatback shell mounting device including a support member secured to the seatback shell and having an outwardly extending arm with an elbow, a fastening member secured to the seatback shell and having an outwardly extending resilient lever arm with a cam surface and a step formed on an underside of the lever arm defining an underside cradle, the method comprising:
- securing the support member and the fastening member to the seatback shell so that the arm of the support member and the lever arm of the fastening member extend in a direction outward from the seatback shell;
- lowering the seatback shell onto the seatback frame from a top of the seatback frame toward a seat of the seatback frame so that the arm of the support member contacts a first seatback frame element of the seatback frame and so that the resilient lever arm of the fastening member contacts a second seatback frame element of the seatback frame;
- and
- applying a downward force to the seatback shell in a direction toward the seat of the seatback frame to guide the cam surface over the second seatback frame element until the step catches the second seatback frame element to snap-fit the fastening member against the second seatback frame element, so that the first seatback frame element is made to bear against a bearing surface of the support member, and so that the second seatback frame element is positioned in the underside cradle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.