Thin profile integrated suspension and seat trim cover

A seat assembly, such as a vehicle seat assembly, having a seat frame and a low profile seat suspension stretched across and attached to the frame, the improvement being that said seat suspension comprises a mat including first and second knitted layers of yarn each having a looped weft interlock stitch construction throughout to define laterally spaced longitudinally extending rows of looped stitches,

• an elastomeric filament means continuously inserted laterally across said rows of stitches at a predetermined longitudinal frequency and with alternate rows of said stitches being disposed on opposite sides of said elastomeric filament means to prevent any significant displacement of said filament means longitudinally of said mat,
• said elastomeric filament means being made from a block copolymer consisting of polytetramethylene terephthalate polyester and polytetramethylene ether material having a diameter between 0.10 to 2.0 millimeters, a high tensile strength and a modulus of elasticity at 100 percent elongation which is at least five times more than natural rubber,
• said layers being interknitted with each other throughout a central portion of said mat to provide a double knit construction and not being interknitted with each other for a short distance adjacent their side edge portions to define hollow casings which can be readily attached to said seat frame, said mat being prestretched to at least 10% elongation when attached to said frame whereby said seat suspension mat has a thin profile and functions both as a support and as an aesthetic trim cover.

A seat assembly, such as a vehicle seat assembly, having a seat frame and a low profile seat suspension mat stretched across and attached to the frame, the improvement being that said seat suspension comprises a mat including first and second knitted layers of yarn each having a loosely looped weft interlock stitch construction throughout to define laterally spaced longitudinally extending rows of looped stitches,

• elastomeric filament means inserted laterally across said rows of stitches and with alternate rows of said stitches being disposed on opposite sides of said elastomeric filament means to prevent any significant displacement of said filament means longitudinally of said mat, said elastomeric filament means being laterally inserted at different frequencies at different longitudinally spaced locations of said mat to vary the support characteristics of the mat at different locations,
• said elastomeric filament means being made from a block copolymer consisting of polytetramethylene terephthalate polyester and polytetramethylene ether material having a diameter between 0.10 to 2.0 millimeters, a high tensile strength and a modulus of elasticity at 100 percent elongation which is at least five times more than natural rubber,
• said layers being interknitted with each other throughout a central portion of said mat to provide a double knit construction and being knitted adjacent their side edge portions so as to be attachable to said seat frame, said mat being prestretched to at least 10% elongation when attached to said frame whereby said seat suspension mat has a thin profile and functions both as a support and as an aesthetic trim cover.