US 5,772,281 AGranted

Dual spring back suspension system for an automotive seat

AssigneeLear Corporation

InventorAndrew J. Massara

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Abstract

A vehicle seat assembly for an automotive vehicle including a rigid shell seat back, an S-curve plate located between the shell and the back of a seat occupant, the plate having a profile that corresponds to the thoracic region, the mid-spine region and the lumbar region of a seat occupant. A carrier member is situated between the plate and the shell, the plate being hinged on the carrier near the pelvis region of the seat occupant and the carrier being hinged at its lower margin for pivotal motion. A spring suspension for the carrier provides a cushion for forces transmitted to the seat back assembly by a seat occupant, the plate being suspended relative to the carrier by pneumatic springs or bladders at the upper and lower regions of the plate near the thoracic region and the lumbar region, respectively.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A seat assembly for a passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle comprising an upright seat back portion, a seat portion, and a seat support structure for said seat portion;

said seat back portion having a rigid frame connected at its lower margin thereof to said support structure;
a cushion carrier member forming a part of said upright seat back portion;
a back support plate disposed adjacent said carrier member and connected to said carrier member at a location intermediate the upper and lower margins thereof;
said carrier member being pivotally connected to said rigid frame at one margin thereof;
a suspension spring means between said carrier member and said rigid frame at a location intermediate said upper and lower margins;
at least one cushion disposed between said carrier member and said back support plate, whereby said carrier member and said back support plate define a floating suspension for a seat occupant with respect to said rigid frame.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.