US 6,199,252 B1Granted

Modular seat assembly and method of installing the same within a vehicle

AssigneeLear Corporation

InventorsJames C. Masters, Andrew J. Massara, Philip W. Leistra, III, Gregory Allison

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A method of installing a front seat assembly in a vehicle interior is disclosed. The front seat assembly has first and second seats which are fastened together prior to installation of the front seat assembly in the vehicle. The front seat assembly is positioned in the vehicle as a single unit and then fastened to the vehicle. A method of installing a rear seat assembly is also disclosed. The rear seat assembly includes a seat back and a package tray pivotally attached to the seat back. Prior to installation, the package tray is positioned so that the rear seat assembly can be inserted through a door opening of the vehicle. The rear seat assembly is inserted through the door opening and the package tray is positioned to an extended position from the seat back and fastened to the vehicle. The seat back is also fastened to the vehicle.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method of assembling a vehicle seat for installation in a selected one of a plurality of different vehicle platforms, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a seat frame having a mounting assembly for fastening the seat frame to a variety of different vehicle platforms, wherein the seat frame has a common design with a predetermined width for all of the different vehicle platforms;
b. providing a plurality of different rigid support members, each of the rigid support members having side portions defining a width which is greater than the predetermined width of the frame such that the side portions of the rigid support members function to generally define the side contour of the seat;
c. providing a plurality of different pads;
d. providing a plurality of different trim covers;
e. attaching selected ones of the plurality of support members, pads, and trim covers together to form an upholstery module;
and
f. attaching the upholstery module to the seat frame, thereby assembling a vehicle seat.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/027,298Filed 20 Feb 1998 · continuation in part
Priority: 27 Nov 1995
Granted: 13 Mar 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification27 codes

B60N 2/005
Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles: arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles , e.g.…
B60N 2/0224
The seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable: non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
B60N 2/02246
Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation: electric motors therefor
B60N 2/0296
The seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable: central command actuator to selectively switch on or engage one of several special…

Family

Application60/007,548Us provisional application · filed 27 Nov 1995
Application60/016,775Us provisional application · filed 7 May 1996
Application08/705,512Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 Aug 1996
Application08/705,513Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 Aug 1996
US 5,813,715 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,010,195 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,199,252 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.