Structural seat system for an automotive vehicle
AssigneeASC Incorporated
InventorsMostafa Rashidy, George A. Corder, Robert G. Storc, James E. Robertson, George Wolenter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A structural seat system is provided for an automotive vehicle. In another aspect of the present invention, a structural beam is employed which extends in a cross-vehicle direction spaced above a vehicle floor. A further aspect of the present invention provides a passenger seat with a recessed configuration. Yet another aspect of the present invention uses a structural reinforcement and seat system in a convertible roof vehicle.
Claims23
An automotive vehicle seat comprising:
- a seat back;
- a seat bottom;
- a seat movement mechanism coupled to the seat bottom;
- at least one of the seat back and seat bottom including a recessed configuration on a lower rear section thereof;
- and
- a structural member located in the recessed configuration and extending in a substantially horizontally elongated direction, the seat bottom being movable independently of the structural member.
An automotive vehicle seat comprising:
- a seat back;
- a seat bottom;
- a seat movement mechanism coupled to the seat bottom;
- at least one of the seat back and seat bottom including a recessed configuration on a lower rear section thereof;
- and
- a lumbar support and a member maintaining a desired distance between the lumbar support and a portion of the seat bottom even when the seat back and the lumbar support are reclined.
An automotive vehicle seat comprising:
- a seat back;
- a seat bottom;
- a seat movement mechanism coupled to the seat bottom;
- at least one of the seat back and seat bottom including a recessed configuration on a lower rear section thereof;
- and
- a recliner hinge coupling the seat back to the seat bottom, the recliner hinge including a recess that corresponds to the recessed configuration of the at least one seat back and seat bottom.
An automotive vehicle seat comprising:
- a seat back;
- a seat bottom;
- a seat movement mechanism coupled to the seat bottom;
- and
- at least one of the seat back and seat bottom including a recessed configuration on a lower rear section thereof;
- wherein the seat bottom and seat back each include a rigid frame and a cushion, the seat bottom and seat back defining a front passenger seat movable in vertical, tilting and horizontal directions relative to the automotive vehicle.
An automotive vehicle seat system comprising:
- a seat back;
- a seat bottom;
- a recliner hinge coupling the seat back to the seat bottom, the hinge having a rearwardly facing and substantially inverted U-shaped recess;
- wherein the seat back is movable to a reclined position less than about 20 degrees from a horizontal plane substantially aligned with the seat bottom;
- and
- a structural beam spaced above a vehicular floor and extending in a substantially horizontal and cross-vehicle direction, the recess of the hinge at least partially surrounding the structural beam when the seat back is reclined above the structural beam.
A method of manufacturing an automotive vehicle seat, the seat including a seat back, a seat bottom and a mechanism, the method comprising:
- (a) coupling the seat back to the seat bottom with the mechanism;
- (b) orienting an opening of the mechanism to face in a rearward direction;
- (c) rotating the seat back relative to the seat bottom about a pivot located on an upper leg of the mechanism above the opening;
- and
- (d) locating a recess in the seat, corresponding to the opening, adjacent a stationary and structural cross-vehicle elongated beam, the beam being located above a vehicular floor and extending at least a majority of the cross-vehicle width.
A method of manufacturing an automotive vehicle seat, the seat including a seat back, a seat bottom and a mechanism, the method comprising:
- (a) coupling the seat back to the seat bottom with the mechanism:
- (b) orienting an opening of the mechanism to face in a rearward direction;
- (c) rotating the seat back relative to the seat bottom about a pivot located on an upper leg of the mechanism above the opening;
- and
- (d) maintaining a lumbar support at a distance relative to the seat bottom even during reclining of the seat back.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.