US 6,439,666 B1 · Pan frame structure of seat cushion of a vehicle seat

Abstract

A structure of the so-called “pan frame” of seat cushion for use with a vehicle seat, which includes a primary reinforcing pattern press formed therein. The primary reinforcing pattern has a flat bottom region defined on its top and protrudes from the bottom wall of the seat-cushion pan frame. The primary reinforcing pattern further communicates with the securing areas where the frame is to be secured to a floor side of the vehicle. Hence, most of a load applied to the pan frame is dispersed via such pattern toward the securing areas, while being absorbed thereby. An auxiliary reinforcing pattern is press formed in the primary reinforcing pattern such as to surround each of the securing areas, thereby blocking further transmission of the load thereto. The primary reinforcing pattern may be of a generally X-shaped channel configuration which communicates its four channel sections with the securing areas, whereas the auxiliary reinforcing pattern be of an annularly protruded configuration that surrounds each of the securing areas.

Claims8

Dependent claims

In combination with a vehicle seat and a vehicle floor, in which the vehicle seat includes a seat cushion, a structure of a seat-cushion pan frame to be provided in said seat cushion, wherein the seat-cushion pan frame has been formed by a press working process from a rigid plate material into a predetermined configuration,

said structure of the seat-cushion pan frame comprising:
a bottom wall defined in the seat-cushion pan frame;
two lateral side regions defined within the bottom wall;
four securing areas adapted to be secured to a side of said vehicle floor, said four securing areas comprising one set of two securing holes and another set of two securing holes, wherein said one and said another set of two securing holes are respectively defined in said two lateral side regions within said bottom wall;
a generally X-shaped reinforcing pattern having four channel sections formed continuous with one another, wherein each of said four channel sections has a flat bottom region defined therein and therealong, and respectively extends toward a securing hole of said four securing holes in communication therewith;
and
four securing means adapted to be respectively passed through said four securing holes for fixedly securing said seat-cushion pan frame to a side of the floor.

4 more elements

said structure of the seat-cushion pan frame comprising:
a bottom wall defined in the seat-cushion pan frame, said bottom wall having a right surface side inwardly of the seat-cushion pan frame and a reverse surface side outwardly thereof;
two lateral side regions defined within the bottom wall;
four securing areas adapted to be secured to a side of said vehicle floor, said four securing areas comprising one set of two securing holes and another set of two securing holes, wherein said one and said another set of two securing holes are respectively defined in said two lateral side regions within said bottom wall;
a generally X-shaped reinforcing pattern so press formed in said bottom wall during said press working process as to have four channel sections continuous with one another, wherein each of said four channel sections has a flat bottom region defined therein and therealong, and respectively extends toward a securing hole of said four securing holes in communication therewith;
an auxiliary reinforcing pattern so press formed in said generally X-shaped reinforcing pattern during said press working process as to protrude from a plane at which there lies said right surface side of said bottom wall, while surrounding each of said four securing areas;
and
four securing means adapted to be respectively passed through said four securing holes for fixedly securing said seat-cushion pan frame to a side of the floor.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pan frame structure of seat cushion of a vehicle seat

Life of this patent

Pan frame structure of seat cushion of a vehicle seat

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8