Seating system and method for making same

1. A seating assembly for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a seat back formed from a blow molded plastic and having a forward wall portion and a rearward wall portion;

a reinforcement insert integrated with at least one of the forward wall portion and the rearward wall portion of the seat back, wherein:

i) the reinforcement insert extends about perimeter regions of the seat back.

2. A seating assembly as in claim 1 wherein the

reinforcement insert is generally U-shaped as it extends about the perimeter regions of the seat back.

3. A seating assembly as in claim 2 wherein the reinforcement insert is located within about 50 mm of an edge defining a perimeter of the seat back.

4. A seating assembly as in claim 2 wherein the reinforcement insert is hollow, has a rounded shape and is formed of a metal selected from steel, titanium, magnesium, aluminum or a combination thereof.

5. A seating assembly as in claim 4 further comprising a hinge assembly for pivotally anchoring said seat back within the automotive vehicle.

6. A seating assembly as in claim 4 wherein said seating assembly is capable of withstanding, without rupture, at least about 13000 Newtons in a direction in which said seat faces in a plane, parallel to the longitudinal centerline of said vehicle, and exhibits, upon rapid acceleration up to about 20 to about 30 g, no fragmentation of said seat back with at least a 36 kg mass placed behind said seat back.

7. A seating assembly as in claim 4 wherein said seat back assembly is further adapted for carrying a child seat tether.

8. A seating assembly as in claim 4 wherein the plastic is a thermoplastic that includes a polycarbonate material, a styrenic material, or a mixture thereof.

9. A seating assembly as in claim 4 wherein the plastic includes a polyester, a polyamide, a polyolefin or a combination thereof.

10. A seating assembly as in claim 4 wherein said seat back is fabricated in a single blow molding operation.

11. A seating assembly for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a seat back formed from a blow molded plastic and having a forward wall portion and a rearward wall portion with an interior open space therebetween wherein:

i) the seat back is pivotal within the automotive vehicle;

ii) the forward wall portion and the rearward wall portion both include an internal and an external surface; and

a reinforcement insert disposed within a cavity defined in a surface of at least one of the forward wall portion or the rearward wall portion wherein;

i) the reinforcement insert is hollow and is formed of a metal selected from steel, titanium, magnesium, aluminum or a combination thereof;

ii) the reinforcement insert is located adjacent a peripheral edge of the seat back and is coextensive with the edge of the seat back.

12. A seating assembly as in claim 11 wherein the reinforcement insert is generally U-shaped as it extends about the perimeter regions of the seat back.

13. A seating assembly as in claim 11 wherein the reinforcement insert is located within about 50 mm of an edge defining a perimeter of the seat back.

14. A seating assembly as in claim 11 further comprising a hinge assembly for pivotally anchoring said seat back within the automotive vehicle.

15. A seating assembly as in claim 14 wherein said seating assembly is capable of withstanding, without rupture, at least about 13000 Newtons in a direction in which said seat faces in a plane, parallel to the longitudinal centerline of said vehicle, and exhibits, upon rapid acceleration up to about 20 to about 30 g, no fragmentation of said seat back with at least a 36 kg mass placed behind said seat back.

16. A seating assembly as in claim 11 wherein the plastic is a thermoplastic that includes a polycarbonate material, a styrenic material, or a mixture thereof.

17. A seating assembly as in claim 11 wherein the plastic includes a polyester, a polyamide, a polyolefin or a combination thereof.

18. A seating assembly as in claim 11 wherein said seat back is fabricated in a single blow molding operation.

19. A seating assembly for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a seat back formed from a blow molded plastic and having a forward wall portion and a rearward wall portion with an interior open space therebetween wherein:

i) the seat back is pivotal within the automotive vehicle;

ii) the forward wall portion and the rearward wall portion both include an internal and an external surface; and

iii) the seat back defines a cavity within the external surface of at least one of the forward wall portion and the rearward wall portion;

a reinforcement insert disposed within the cavity defined in the external surface wherein;

i) the reinforcement insert is hollow and is formed of a metal selected from steel, titanium, magnesium, aluminum or a combination thereof;

ii) the reinforcement insert is rounded in shape;

iii) the reinforcement insert is located adjacent a peripheral edge of the seat back and is coextensive with the edge of the seat back; and

iv) the at least one of the forward wall portion and the rearward wall portion contact a substantial portion of an outer surface of the reinforcement insert.

20. A seating assembly as in claim 19 wherein the reinforcement insert is generally U-shaped as it extends about the perimeter regions of the seat back.

21. A seating assembly as in claim 19 wherein the reinforcement insert is located within about 50 mm of an edge defining a perimeter of the seat back.

22. A seating assembly as in claim 19 wherein said seating assembly is capable of withstanding, without rupture, at least about 13000 Newtons in a direction in which said seat faces in a plane, parallel to the longitudinal centerline of said vehicle, and exhibits, upon rapid acceleration up to about 20 to about 30 g, no fragmentation of said seat back with at least a 36 kg mass placed behind said mt back.

23. A seating assembly as in main claim 19 wherein said seat back is fabricated in a single blow mowing operation.