Granted Patent B2

US 7,137,670 · App. 11/268,245 · Granted Nov 21, 2006

Abstract

Claims (40)

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

a plastic seat back having at least one wall portion having a forward wall portion and a rearward wall portion, the forward wall portion and rearward wall portion defining an interior open space between them;

a tubular shaped reinforcement insert substantially enclosed by the forward wall portion, the rearward wall portion or a combination of both, wherein;

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

ii) the reinforcement insert intimately contacts a substantial portion of at least the forward wall portion or the rearward wall portion; and

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

a plurality of integrally molded plastic reinforcement structures extending across at least a portion of the at least one wall portion and forming a shaped pattern on the seat back;

wherein the seat back is pivotal within the automotive vehicle.

2. A seating assembly as in claim 1 further comprising a hinge assembly securing the at least one wall portion to the vehicle wherein the reinforcement insert is in the vicinity of the hinge bracket.

3. A seating assembly as in claim 1 wherein the reinforcement insert is hollow.

4. A seating assembly as in claim 1 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 30 kg mass placed behind said seat back.

5. A seating assembly as in claim 1 wherein the reinforcement insert is located between the forward wall portion and rearward wall portion.

6. A seating assembly as in claim 1 wherein the reinforcement insert is located within about 50 mm of an edge defining a perimeter of the seat back.

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

a plastic seat back 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 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.

8. A seating assembly as in claim 7 wherein the forward wall portion, the rearward wall portion or both substantially surround the insert.

9. A seating assembly as in claim 8 wherein the forward wall portion and the rearward wall portion are formed of a blow molded plastic or an injection molded plastic.

10. A seating assembly as in claim 8 wherein the forward wall portion and the rearward wall portion or both contact a substantial portion of the reinforcement insert.

11. A seating assembly as in claim 8 wherein the reinforcement insert is located within about 50 mm of an edge defining a perimeter of the seat back.

12. A seating assembly as in claim 8 wherein the forward wall portion and rearward wall portion are formed a thermoplastic that includes a polycarbonate material, a styrenic material, a polyester, a polyamide, a polyolefin or a combination thereof.

13. A seating assembly as in claim 7 further comprising a hinge assembly securing the forward and rearward portions to the vehicle wherein the reinforcement insert is in the vicinity of the hinge bracket.

14. A seating assembly as in claim 7 wherein the reinforcement insert is hollow, has a rounded shape or both.

15. A seating assembly as in claim 7 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 30 kg mass placed behind said seat back.

16. A seating assembly as in claim 7 wherein at least one integrally molded plastic reinforcement extends across at least a portion of the forward wall portion, the rearward wall portion or both.

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

a plastic seat back 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; and

v) at least one integrally molded plastic reinforcement extends across at least a portion of the forward wall portion, the rearward wall portion or both.

Assignments (7)