IP Library Granted Patent US 7,837,263
Granted Patent B2
US 7,837,263 · App. 11/762,939 · Granted Nov 23, 2010

Vehicle seat construction

Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,837,263
App. No.
11/762,939
Granted
Nov 23, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle seat includes a foam cushion, a flexible cover at least partially defining the outer surface of the vehicle seat, and a spacer fabric. The spacer fabric includes a first fabric panel operatively connected to the flexible cover, a second fabric panel operatively connected to the foam cushion, and an interconnecting layer. The interconnecting layer resiliently interconnects the first and second fabric panels.

Claims (36)

1. A vehicle seat comprising:

a foam cushion defining a concavity;

a flexible cover at least partially defining the outer surface of the vehicle seat;

a three dimensional spacer fabric having a first fabric panel operatively connected to the flexible cover, a second fabric panel operatively connected to the foam cushion and extending across the concavity, and an interconnecting layer that operatively interconnects the first and second fabric panels and that resiliently biases the first and second panels away from one another; and

a first fastening element mounted with respect to the foam cushion and being at least partially disposed within the concavity; said first fastening element operatively connecting the spacer fabric to the foam cushion;

wherein the foam cushion defines a cushion surface; wherein the concavity is open at the cushion surface; wherein the cover extends across the concavity; and wherein the cover does not define a trench where the cover extends across the concavity.

2. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , wherein the second fabric panel is adhesively bonded directly to the foam cushion.

3. The vehicle seat of claim 1 , further comprising a second fastening element mounted with respect to the spacer fabric and engaged with the first fastening element.

4. The vehicle seat of claim 3 , wherein the first and second fastening elements are hook and loop fastening elements.

5. The vehicle seat of claim 3 , wherein one of the first and second fastening elements is a clip.

6. A vehicle seat comprising:

a lower seat portion;

a seatback portion operatively connected to the lower seat portion;

a foam cushion defining a cushion surface and a concavity that is open at the cushion surface;

a three dimensional spacer fabric having a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel operatively connected to the foam cushion and extending across the cavity, and a plurality of pile yarns resiliently biasing the first and second fabric panels from one another; and

a flexible cover having a surface that at least partially defines the outer surface of at least one of the lower seat portion and the seatback portion, said flexible cover being operatively connected to the first fabric layer; and

a first fastening element mounted with respect to the foam cushion and being at least partially disposed within the concavity; said first fastening element operatively connecting the spacer fabric to the foam cushion;

wherein the cover extends across the concavity; and

wherein the cover does not define a trench where the cover extends across the concavity.

7. The vehicle seat of claim 6 , wherein the second fabric panel is adhesively bonded directly to the foam cushion.

8. The vehicle seat of claim 6 , further comprising a second fastening element mounted with respect to the spacer fabric and engaged with the first fastening element.

9. The vehicle seat of claim 8 , wherein the first and second fastening elements are hook and loop fastening elements.

10. The vehicle seat of claim 8 , wherein one of the first and second fastening elements is a clip.

11. The vehicle seat of claim 6 , wherein the foam cushion, the spacer fabric, and the flexible cover are part of the seatback portion.

12. A vehicle seat comprising:

a lower seat portion;

a seatback portion operatively connected to the lower seat portion;

a foam cushion defining a concavity; and

a three dimensional spacer fabric having a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel operatively connected to the foam cushion and extending across the concavity, and a plurality of pile yarns resiliently biasing the first and second fabric panels from one another;

a first fastening element mounted with respect to the foam cushion and being at least partially disposed within the concavity; said first fastening element operatively connecting the spacer fabric to the foam cushion; and

said first fabric panel defining at least part of the outer surface of at least one of the lower seat portion and the seatback portion;

wherein said first fabric panel does not define a trench where the three dimensional spacer fabric extends across the concavity.

13. The vehicle seat of claim 12 , wherein the second fabric panel is adhesively bonded directly to the foam cushion.

14. The vehicle seat of claim 12 , further comprising a second fastening element mounted with respect to the spacer fabric and engaged with the first fastening element.

15. The vehicle seat of claim 14 , wherein the first and second fastening elements are hook and loop fastening elements.

16. The vehicle seat of claim 14 , wherein one of the first and second fastening elements is a clip.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034185/0587 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0035 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0057 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025314/0946 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0656 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0140 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0264 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023155/0663 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0563 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022553/0540 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 3, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022195/0334 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2007
From: BOOTH, DANIEL W.; DEMICK, ROBERT L.; KILMER, JEFFREY J.; BRUCKBAUER, ERIC M.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 019429/0135 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080309143A1 · Dec 18, 2008